Willie Jackson on democracy

Written By: - Date published: 10:12 am, February 22nd, 2017 - 38 comments
Categories: activism, democratic participation - Tags: , , ,

Willie Jackson is using his return to the political spotlight to good effect:

Willie Jackson: The health of our democracy is at risk with the Electoral Commission failing voters

The Electoral Commission needs to wake up. What is the use of a democracy if only the middle class vote? How can we make our society fairer and more equal if political parties only pander to a certain group of voters?

Is it any wonder that we can’t solve the housing crisis that grips this nation when those without homes are in such despair with their political system that they simply throw their hands up in desperation and refuse to vote altogether?

Right now we have an emergency with the health of our democracy. Too many young people, Maori and the poorest electorates in our largest cities are not voting.

Part of the problem is a total lack of civics taught in schools, and part of it is a natural cynicism towards a system they don’t see as being for their benefit, and an Electoral Commission that seems to have given up reaching out to these groups altogether.

If the Electoral Commission isn’t prepared to do its job properly, then I will. I’ll be out in my community enrolling as many voters possible.

While obviously I want them voting Labour, even more important is that they actually vote, so it is imperative the Electoral Commission listen to the criticism and stop their alienation of the young, brown and poor potential voter.

It would be interesting to hear an EC response to this criticism, but good to see Jackson highlighting the concern.


Also:
https://twitter.com/NZMorningReport/status/834116394933301248

38 comments on “Willie Jackson on democracy ”

  1. Tiger Mountain 1

    good points by Willie Jackson, particularly re the unpublished roll

    thousands of people want or need to be under the radar for various reasons including privacy, debt collectors and even fear for their safety and ultimately lives, whatever their reasons they should not be excluded from voting, indeed they should be encouraged to participate

    the Electoral Commission was less active last election than in previous ones and that is just how the born to rule politicians like it

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1

      good points by Willie Jackson, particularly re the unpublished roll

      You’d think in this day and age of identity theft they’d automatically go to an unpublished roll. Something tells me that it requires a law change and it’s the government that’s not moving.

      But, IMO, he’s just pointing fingers and not addressing the real problem – the fact that the political parties don’t represent those people. That the political system is the problem and to find the solution we need to look at changing the system.

      People who are comfortable in the present system don’t want to change it and so they won’t see the problems with it.

      I suspect that Willie Jackson is comfortable in the present system.

      • greywarshark 1.1.1

        DTB
        Let’s just wait and see eh before we decide on jovial Jackson’s racing handicap.

    • weka 1.2

      Pretty sure there is already a process for having your name withheld from the roll. I don’t know how easy it is though.

      • weka 1.2.1

        ok, only for safety reasons, and not that straight forward,

        http://www.elections.org.nz/voters/get-ready-enrol-and-vote/unpublished-roll

        • Leftie 1.2.1.1

          Cinny and I were discussing this very subject not that long ago. It is a pain for most to go through the process of trying to get on the unpublished roll, one can see why people wouldn’t even bother. There are a number of points that the EC need to get off their butts to do, and do it now, and this is one of them. Make it easy for voters, not harder.

          • weka 1.2.1.1.1

            Have a look at the Pundit link below. The EC are constrained by the legislation. Govt needs to make changes first

            • Leftie 1.2.1.1.1.1

              Then I won’t be holding my breath for change on that front until National is kicked out. The last thing the Gnat government want, is the possibility of more voters, voting against it.

    • Leftie 1.3

      Completely agree with you and Willie Jackson on this.

  2. roy cartland 2

    I wish Willie had gone through these road-to-Damascus moments before he was chosen, I know people who are still smarting from his past buffoonery (and worse). Just hope he can get the exposure that he’s now a more mature, learnèd person, if indeed he is.

    • saveNZ 2.1

      Personally I’m concerned at the type of exposure that Willie Jackson will give to Labour. I’m not sure he is capable of being the more mature, learnèd person… and I think he will constantly be followed by MSM for this ‘comments’ on every issue and MSM will gleefully make him the ‘mouthpiece’ of Labour.

      Now think about that for the 64% Pakeha voters out there… A soundbite from Willy each day before the election. Most migrants I know have zero understanding of Maori issues and keep asking me, ‘why does the government keep giving them money?’. So I think Willy will be used against Labour to scare voters, and we have seen these dirty tricks before.

      People don’t vote for many reasons but also because voters are sick of being lectured by government who have abundant flaws themselves again and again who tend to make poor decisions with few personal consequences – that’s what part of the turn off is…

      The other issue is that people now want everything individualised – especially younger people. They want exact fit to their beliefs. They have been groomed by neoliberalism to be passive consumers taking stuff – and not groomed to be people providing stuff or making do.

      A commercial example is that Starbucks found that sales rocketed when they individualised coffee orders. So you can make your own coffee, a mocochino latte with soy milk and cinnamon with blar on the side. etc etc

      That’s just coffee, but politics is really unable to do an exact political fit for every person and so people will not ‘consume’ it. That is why dangling a 23 year old student will not bring in votes from ‘young students’ like the identity politics seem to think. Does not work like that.

      We have many people on TS, saying they will only vote for more renter rights, others are saying more Maori rights etc etc. So then you get this unnatural alliances over a piecemeal policy aka between The Maori Party and National because as long as one piece of legislation is used as a bribe they will fall for it. Even if they don’t get want they want aka Seabed and Foreshore, and make Maori worse off they are still happy about it.

      To win voters you have to inspire and I think that will be the clincher. Lecturing people does not work. That’s why Natz use Sports people to help them.

      I’m not blaming younger people, because it is unfortunately the older members of society that has bought this individualistic disease on. And due to Rogernomics many older and gen x people are scared of being penniless in society and super will be abolished before they receive it.

      It’s a pretty well founded fear the way things are going.

      Saying that, I do think voting should be compulsory and that your details should be private.

    • Morrissey 2.2

      Willie Jackson is just not a serious person.

      “Ya see, the problem with you Wallace is, it’s all academic, it’s all P.C. with you. You can’t solve relationships with an academic approach and it’s SHOCKING really.”

      Willie Jackson, on Good Morning, TV1, 9:10 a.m., Tuesday 4 June 2013

      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08062013/#comment-645516

      • saveNZ 2.2.1

        Yep, lets just hope Labour are not going to each end of the extreme to alienate everyone out there.

        3/4 of Labour caucus are PC and 25% are tough talking non PC red necks. Might alienate everyone in the middle and at each extreme and undo all their hard work of late to actually try the centre road.

  3. Siobhan 4

    Maybe calling $500,000 houses ‘affordable’, and defining “the Kiwi Dream’ as being all about making it onto the property ladder isn’t the best way to inspire the non voting working poor. Its pretty much policy designed by people who think they know about flatting because its something they did for 8 years before they bought that run down little bungalow in Mount Eden.

    Sure, Labour has some policies aimed at those who have completely fallen off the plate…but maybe bring in policies aimed at providing hope and dignity and security to those who are managing to get by, but will never be home owners.

    Thats a big group, and its getting bigger by the day.

    Ignore it at your peril.

    • Morrissey 4.1

      “…those who are managing to get by, but will never be home owners.”

      Yes, yes, Siobhan—but do these low-lifes ever get asked to speak on radio, or get interviewed by the caring Hillary Barry on television? ANSWER: No they don’t, so why should we worry about them?

      https://cdn.meme.am/cache/instances/folder71/400x/61484071.jpg

      • saveNZ 4.1.1

        Yes they do, right before the election to turn off the rest of the voters – aka the big push of Granny last election to ‘help’ those that can’t afford a house and then look like there is a big mandate for capital gains and raise Super age, and then voila, back to renters and P stories again when Key wins by a landslide.

        Poverty is relative! Everyone thinks they work too hard and are deserving and should get more from government!

        My guess is there will be loads of people talking in MSM about homelessness and renting right before the election. But I think it will benefit the Natz more – like last time.

        That’s because everyone believes they had it rough.
        The oldies had the wars.
        The Gen x had massive interest rates and massive interest on their student loans and less jobs.
        The millennials have even less jobs with worse conditions and high house prices but they do have low interest rates and no interest on student loans.

        I’m not saying any of this is fair. But pointing out that it can be manipulated by the Natz or MSM to seem like whinging.

        There is a growing fatigue about need.

        • coffeeconnoiseur 4.1.1.1

          Needs to be framed better.
          The need to be able to meet essential basic needs to live by everyone.

    • Nope 4.2

      I don’t think you’ve read Labour’s actual policies.

      http://www.labour.org.nz/housing

      Phil Twyford said recently at a public meeting they’re going to make an announcement on renters too.

    • Leftie 4.3

      I thought Labour’s housing policy that will affect renting etc had already been explained to you by some on here. Labour are doing a lot work on this issue and I know via email surveys by Twyford, renting is being looked at too.

      • Siobhan 4.3.1

        As a life time renter my concerns would be constant rent increases and a lack of surety of being able to stay in one place while raising my children, let alone during my retirement.

        No one is talking about rent caps, no one is talking about life time rentals.

        “renting is being looked at too”..a strange little add on. As I repeatedly say….Its as though Labours housing policy has been written by people for whom renting was just an 8 year ‘adventure’ while they waited to buy their first Mount Eden Bungalow. They understand the needs for those at the very bottom, because no one wants to see homeless people under bridges, but they REFUSE to see the needs of those who manage to avoid the street and will never come within cooee of a State House waiting list, but will spend a life time at the mercy of Ma and Pa landlords, and the Rental companies.

        As long as housing is treated as a sacred tradable Commodity, where the goal of the average Kiwi is to win lotto and be a landlord…there will be trouble.

        • Jenny Kirk 4.3.1.1

          Labour has a housing package, Siobhan which you could find in detail on their website – but one part of it is to stop the state house sell off, build at least 1000 new state houses each year until the need is met, and stop Housing NZ to have to return a profit to the govt each year, instead putting it into their housing, etc etc.
          So – that’s the state house aspect – which if implemented – along with requiring every rental (private or state) to be warm and dry – will also have a positive effect on landlords in the private sector. As will a crackdown on property speculators.

          • Red 4.3.1.1.1

            Yep just declare it and it will be so, forget the realities of how and who pays This what the intelligent voting public will weigh up at the end of the year against the progress that is been made by national on a complex problem, not to mention their outstanding stewardship of economy over the last 9 years

        • Red 4.3.1.2

          Rent caps just encourage slums, rent costs reflect supply and demand, we have a supply issue that has nothing to do with market but all to do with numerous government intervention and regulation in this area over many years

          • Jenny Kirk 4.3.1.2.1

            Nonsense Red – the market has been allowed to run riot, state housing has been run down , tenants turfed out for non-happening “redevelopment” by the private market, immigrants have been allowed to pour in with nothing added to the infrastructure to support them – the housing market has become a total shambles in the last 8 years under your National govt.

            • Red 4.3.1.2.1.1

              Markets are very little in perfect equilibrium, housing is no different, I give you the sudden upshot in net migration on housing demand but as half of these are kiwis coming home, Aussies with rights to be here, plus the remainder students here on temporary study vis plus new immigrants to help with our skills shortage I am not sure who you are proposing to cull, a bit of trump like immigration policy maybe. Nor does such a blip in housing supply and demand equilibrium mean we should run head first into socialist housing policy that have failed all over the world, better to free up the obsticals that prevent the market responding long term . This is nationals policy, not labours fairy god mother strategy just declare housing a right and it will so, backed up by bs statements on provision of 10000 new houses by the state on top an already a stretched sector by ignoring all reality and practicality on the ground

  4. tc 5

    Jackson is performing as one would expect a talkback host to behave.

    Ranting about a problem, not offering a solution delivered from a soapbox that resides in an old world styled and run organisation.

    • Olwyn 5.1

      Well he says that he’ll be out in his community enrolling as many voters as possible, which is at least a step toward a solution. I think he framed what he said very well. Rather than hand-wringing about the ‘missing millions’ he pointed to a ‘risk to democracy’. This framing encourages the people he is addressing to think of themselves as a constituency that has been neglected rather than a begrudged non-constituency, without giving leverage to his opponents.

      • Leftie 5.1.1

        Spot on Olwyn!!

      • adam 5.1.2

        Spot on Olwyn.

        I’d add, it is also quite hard once you are a MP to be critical of the Electoral Commission. It’s virtually impossible to raise these points with out looking trying to score points.

        We as a society, need at the very least, to ask some serious questions about the whole voting process in New Zealand. And why people don’t want to be involved.

        I’d also like to see a independent inquiry into the Electoral Commission. In reality to late this short before an election, but after the next election, I think one should happen.

        • Leftie 5.1.2.1

          “like to see a independent inquiry into the Electoral Commission. ”

          You are not the only one, I so agree, and there should have been an inquiry after the last election.

  5. Ad 6

    Willie is gong to need to do a whole lot more of this – and a lot more than this – if he is to make it worth the Delegates’ while getting up that slippery list pole.

    • adam 6.1

      I thought his commitment to working with Poto Williams, was a good first step. This is not a bad second. I full endorse you sentiment, that may give you sleepless nights.

      I think the commission itself need looking into. There are some real issues with the amount of staff it is churning through, especially at management level.

      So if he keeps on top of this topic, will show some real positives.

  6. Red Hand 7

    “a system they don’t see as being for their benefit”. It isn’t for their benefit.

    The non-voter demographic he writes about is an increasing part of the population.

    A real threat to the high living standards enjoyed by WJ and his family.

    I’d be shitting my pants if WJ’s nice little promo was truly threatening politically.

    Not hearing a genuine voice from the oppressed. Certainly not from Sellout Harawira and the nodding dog “Maori” Party.

  7. Andrea 8

    “I’ll be out in my community enrolling as many voters possible.”

    Oh, well done Willie. Now, if you can get that message across to the rest of the baggagery in Labour – be seen, get known, move ahead – you may make progress in persuading people who’ve NEVER SEEN a live politician in their lives to vote for real people.

    Winston circles the country, meeting after meeting, mostly affable, sometimes droll, often ascerbic – and he’s known to many.

    A lot of National’s offerings are like that – ex-mayors, business owners, contractors and others of that ilk. Known to those whose votes they are courting.

    Labour? Who?

    Our local lad, a shadow spokesperson in fact, used to be in the local rag a lot in his first term. Now? Seldom seen. Rarely heard.

    Get ’em out, Willie. Make them visible and accountable and accessible. Right now they’re a pontificating, patronising clot of unevolved Victorian do-gooders, unrecognisable in any thin crowd.

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    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    4 days ago
  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    4 days ago
  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    5 days ago
  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    5 days ago
  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    5 days ago
  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    5 days ago
  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    6 days ago
  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    6 days ago
  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    1 week ago
  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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