“Matt McCarten is one to watch. He’s developing his union. I don’t have much time for [the established unions]. I hope my mate Matt destroys them.” – 2005 – link
He sounds like a “front-bum” timebomb just waiting to explode.
BUT… obviously some strategic whizz thinks it will whip Maoridom back into line and keep them in Camp Labour for a few years. Maybe claw back a few Waitakere men.
Thanks for that highly entertaining Good Morning call back, btw. Whatever happened to ghostrider?
I’m guessing this little dig is an anti Willie post. Which is just fantastic in election year. Unity and a solid determination to keep National along with their housing crisis, low income, sleeping in cars social programme precisely on track for three more years as recommended by The Standard.
When was it decided “unity” was just another way of saying “shut up and do what you’re told?” If you want mindless groupthink go join the Nats. Since he hates unions so much that might be good advice for Willy too.
Whoever put this up doesn’t give a damm about a Labour- led government. A childish post… we hate Willie Jackson and we’re gonna destroy him cos that’s what matters to us – nothing else.
I have no strong feelings either way about Jackson but this is pathetic. Front up author and don’t hide behind Ns and Fs.
I think it’s pathetic (verging on Dirty Politics) to present this hitjob as a “notice and feature” and I agree author should put their name to it.
BUT, I do think Willie Jackson is being treated ridiculously favorably by Labour HQ. Couldn’t they have at least got the other, handsome and articulate misogynist from that dreadful pairing?
What do you think about him swearing, on RadioLive, that he would put a knife through the heart of his “missus” if he ever found out she had cheated on him?
Now that Labour has concluded most of it’s selections for winnable seats at the 2017 election (New Lynn, Auckland Central, and Ohariu are the outstanding ones)…
The attendant publicity is the direct result of Jackson’s pronouncements that he’d be standing and have a high place on the list, and apparently he hasn’t even been approved as a member yet.
The timeline (so far as I can tell):
Little talks to Williams.
Little approaches Jackson.
Jackson goes to the media.
Williams et al react.
Jackson’s announcement could have acknowledged and pre-empted the reaction. It didn’t, and here we are.
Jackson was a union man and unions post Employments Contracts Act more or less made themselves redundant and I can well recall the blind stupidity of some. Modern Unions are tge future and he supported McCartens version.
Mindless groupthink? Yep just have a full on fight in front of the public, fuck the leadership, don’t discuss anything quietly first, just go postal. All that matters is you! Honestly who the hell wants to vote for an organisation that cannot talk, cannot plan. It tells me Labour are a disorganised backstabbing bunch of idiots.
And do you think for a single moment everybody’s personal preference in something as broad as a political party can somehow be accomodated? Not even in ACT i imagine do they think that.
All I know is I dont have to vote National because some idiot who thinks the world revolves around them, on the left, will ensure they get National across the line anyway they can.
So lets just put on hold for 3 more years at least any hope of housing, welfare, health and education reforms to name a few because the left will never get its act together! At least unity won’t be needed then.
It tells me Labour are a disorganised backstabbing bunch of idiots.
The backstabbing bunch of idiots are a small minority Keith. Believe me. I’ve been
around the Labour Party (both close to the inner circle and on the periphery) for so long I’m reluctant to admit how long. 😉
But the time has come for someone to be made an example of… because these are the people who have kept Labour out of office more than in it.
“Keith I’ll take your word for it. I too really wonder if a few in Labour never want to make it to government!”
They prefer principles to governing LOL
You’d like it if they were a carbon copy of nuttyanal would you ? They could do a Dutch auction on who can be less Laboury. Jacko can be Labour’s Sobbin’ Mike.
People have legitimate concerns about the process Anne. The leader has pre announced (a) someone’s membership (which has to be approved by the council and (b) acceptance of his waiver because he’s only just joined to stand on the list and (c) his high list place (which is supposed to go through the regional conferences and moderating committee first). None of this debate would be taking place in public if there hadn’t been a media announcement – not made by “backstabbers” by the way. Remember all the fights over the constitution and the right of members to be involved in selections / leaders etc? Was that all for nothing? You sound like Kim Jong Il “someone must be made an example of.”
Darien, I can only assume Labour has thoroughly enjoyed being in Opposition for the last 9 years, so much so that it wants to remain there. If you want to question WJ’s suitability for the role of MP, it’d be useful to talk to him about that.
Well actually ; I know Willie and probably a lot better than you. Its not my job to question him. Or to put out there for all to see my experiences of him. This isn’t about Willie as I’ve said. It’s about the democratic processes of the labour party : hard fought for and won, yet shit upon in a stroke.
It seems most of us agree the Andrew has (as you state) “Shit upon” the Labour Party’s democratic processes so what is going to happen?
Is he going to be held to account by the party or are we looking at New Zealand’s Donald Trump and the process he plans to employ if he becomes Prime Minister?
And if he can’t follow his own Party’s democratic processes how can “mainstream” New Zealanders trust him to follow their country’s democratic processes?
Im desperate on behalf of union workers for a change. But it can’t be at any cost. I well remember the 1980s when the excuses were similar : shut up or put at risk a Labour Government. Some did, some didn’t. I know who paid the price. I’m keen to support a Labour led government and will do everything I can, but don’t expect everyone to shut up when our values cross the line.
Hey guys, Little hasn’t pre-announced a high list ranking; he’s made it clear he’d like one. There’s a difference.
I’m not Jackson’s greatest fan – he’s said some stupid things in his time. Having said that, talkback radio depends on the hosts being a bit extreme and provoking a reaction. I think perhaps we all need to calm down a bit and those of us who are members can participate in the party’s process. Fighting in public doesn’t help anyone (or not anyone we want to help, anyway).
I think you have mistaken who I am calling the “backstabbers” Darien. I was not referring to a single group of identifiable Labour people, but rather a succession of individuals over many years who have seen fit to go hiving off to journos or whoever (often incognito) with the sole purpose of publicly criticising/ demeaning some other person because of an obscure personal grudge.
If the complaint is a worthy one – and sometimes they are – then there are avenues within the system that should be extensively used instead of going down the public road.
The second challenge is to realize that in the current moment, the attack on what is termed identity politics arises precisely from those who wish to diminish the centrality of struggles for social justice It is those who believe that there is some sort of race-neutral progressive populism that can unite us all who fail to understand the profound lessons of U.S. history. The struggle is not linear; it never has been The struggles against economic injustice frequently overlap with various struggles for social justice. If we want to win, a strategy must be constructed that recognizes that the system is multidimensional and cannot be challenged on one front alone.
Good to know you are on board Paul. Still not clear how that relates to The Standard machine ensuring that Labour loses the election though. Maybe you should take it up with Lynn, he does the programming. Nor how it relates to the post.
Ah. Interesting. That’s the second time I’ve seen on TS, when an anti-“identity politics” commenter posted a link that supposedly supported their views. In fact, the link explains the complex intersection of and interaction between economic and social justice; between the class struggle, and struggles again other oppression (often focused on race and gender, but also sexuality and disability).
The people posting each ink don’t seem to have read much more than the headline. If they had read the full content of each article, they don’t show they have understood it.
Thanks for the, Paul. It provides a very good explanation of the interweaving of structural racism, patriarchy and capitalism, tracing the historical roots and the shifts to the present day.
Too many quotable sections in the article to chose one. However, the article raises the issue for me about how much terms (such as “identity politics and attacks on it) and issues are lifted from US sources, without reading them critically, or thinking about their relevance to NZ.
Paul said “Is the Standard trying to ensure Labour loses the next election?”
The Standard is a machine. How is it losing the election exactly? Do you hold Lynn responsible seeing as how he does the programming?
If instead you (or Paul) mean the authors, then be specific about how that might be happening. Say which authors and how they are working to lose the election. (yes, you can do this without attacking authors). I’d love to hear how you perceive this.
But perhaps Paul (and you) meant that the commentariat are trying to lose the election. Because they are as much a part of this place as the authors.
Myself, I see in Paul’s comments (here and elsewhere) that women, gay people, Māori (unless sanctioned by the establishment), disabled people, etc should stfu for the good of the cause. Is that what you think should be the kaupapa of TS?
Exactly. My instinct (which I am fighting off at present in the interests of debate) is to simply start banning anyone who wants to shut any one else up.
The Standard platform is a place for robust DEBATE.
We moderate on behaviour.
Now I can understand this kind of foolishness from shouting authoritarian idiots like Bomber. But I thought that by now most people reading this site would have caught on to the fact that we don’t censor opinion except where it causes issues for the site.
Moderators constrain behaviour..
I would point out that I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that I do need to start dealing with the behaviour of ignorant dickheads attacking weka.
The irony here is that despite what some think about my moderation I spend quite a bit of time explaining not just why I am moderating but how moderation works in general. Not to mention that some moderators here, myself included, give the people they disagree with politically more leeway so as to not appear to be being partisan.
So seeing long time regulars here choosing to attack not just me but all the authors is an eye opener. My conclusion thus far is that some here have no interest in the wellbeing of the site, don’t take any notice of how it is being run or the work involved in that or how moderation is done, and generally treat the place as a personal portal for pushing their own politics without regard for the collective good. And then think they can blame other people for the failure of the left. Either they still don’t get the difference between moderating for behaviour and political censoring, or they don’t care. And they still won’t make the effort to criticise a post but instead choose to attack the people who provide them with this space.
Fuck ’em, I’ve had enough.
I’ve got things I want to do in the back end, and then I’d like to be writing posts. I think it’s sad that the author who spends the most time in the community would be pushed to this, and I’m sorry for the people that will inadvertently get caught up in harsher moderation, but I think the worst thing that can happen here now is for authors to be put off at the expense of individual commenters (and for the people who haven’t been paying attention, authors being way more important than commenters is a long term, stated core principle of the site).
And because I apparently can’t get rid of my namby-pamby liberal ethics, I would encourage the people who are paying attention and who do care about the site to keep building bridges and as Anne says keep communication open with people you disagree with. It’s possible to criticise a post without attacking authors (and to criticise a comment without attacking the commenter). And please start supporting the people who make this place possible, authors and regular commenters. Talk about what you like and what works as much as what doesn’t.
Nope weka I’d say about time. lprent hands out the harsh at times, and people pull their head in (me included). I don’t think you should feel bad at all.
I almost swore at the computer reading swordfishes comment and now Paul’s. I have not commented, becasue both made me feel really sad we have to watch this medieval like macho posturing. I hope they will take some time to look at their comments, and reflect on what they said.
hi weka,
fwiw, i applaud your efforts in respect to authoring,commenting and playing your part in this community.
i find your moderation to be even handed and fair.
i also get if you’ve had enough, you’ve had enough.
in respect to wider moderation i would rather see folk who are here to merely agitate or overly pedantic in their debate style given the long walk off a short pier.
I’ve got things I want to do in the back end, and then I’d like to be writing posts. I think it’s sad that the author who spends the most time in the community would be pushed to this, and I’m sorry for the people that will inadvertently get caught up in harsher moderation, but I think the worst thing that can happen here now is for authors to be put off at the expense of individual commenters (and for the people who haven’t been paying attention, authors being way more important than commenters is a long term, stated core principle of the site).
I know the feeling. I got there nearly a decade ago.
Fortunately I just have a wide angle of outright anger aggression that I feel obliged to share on the odd occasion. Being a responsible adult I like to share it with anyone who I consider is a troll and idiotic misogynist political imbeciles like Bradbury.
So be warned that :-
1. This is election year, and I always allocate more time for this site in election year.
2. I only have one trip this year offshore for work thus far and it is only two weeks.
3. I consider September 24th to be a good end date for moderation.
4. You appear to have removed my only current constraint.
I must say I do like the times when I have no other mods around. I get to pick and choose which pompous arseholes I persecute.
Since there have been 800 comments published since I announced out 1.2 millionth published comment, I have a selection of idiots upstanding citizens to select from.
The piece of that article, most relevant to the post, is to do with unions. The article explains how racism (especially chattel slavery) was built into US capitalism with colonisation, occupation and settlement from Europe.
For NZ, the development of a capitalist system was an integral part of colonisation and patriarchy. I understand that women and Māori were present in late 19th and early 20th century union activity. However, there was an on-going struggle for equal treatment, and against discrimination within unions.
A relevant section of the linked article deals with this in the US context:
A progressive or radical class politics—that is, a politics rooted among workers—actually has more to do with who is on the side of the oppressed. The U.S. has a significant history where white workers have been more than willing to battle employers, but then would turn against workers of color. An infamous case in point was that of the International Seamen’s Union (late 1800s-mid1930s), led by Andrew Furuseth, that was rhetorically radical but vehemently anti-Asian. The fact that a politician, union or some other individual or institution raises the clarion call of economic justice does not, ipso facto, mean that they are embracing progressive class politics. They may just as easily be engaged with right-wing populist politics.
Now, while I’m no fan of the Tamihere-Jackson support of rape culture on radio and in other areas of the media, there could well be significant reasons why Jackson has developed some dissatisfaction with unions. So, I would like to read more about his views on unions.
Does Jackson for instance, feel that unions have been contexts where Pākehā workers have actively been encouraged to attack, or discriminate against Māori and/or other ethnic groups? What is Jackson’s view on unions today?
I can’t really form a view on this til I know more.
It appears you’ve changed your name to Notices and Features, Weka.
While I’m not an enormous fan of Jacksons, this is starting to look uncomfortably like the beginning of a fully-fledged character assassination campaign. Supreme sectarian self-indulgence in Election Year (and after 3 successive election defeats for fucksake)
[this post has absolutely nothing to do with me. I didn’t put it up. I’ve only just seen it and like others I’m still trying to figure out what the point of it is.
As a moderator note, I’m going to ask people to reread the Policy, especially the bit about what The Standard is and who writes here and why. Also note that there is a general rule on not attacking authors.
Assuming this post was put up by me or that I knew anything about it says something about the people making that assumption. Please stop and think about what you are doing here. I’d suggest critiquing the post for what it is, not what you are projecting on to it.
Swordfish, the only reason you are not getting a substantial ban is because I have a lot of respect for what you bring to TS. But this was completely and utterly unwarranted.
I’m also going to suggest that the commentariat takes a good hard look at itself and thinks about why there are no feminist authors on TS. This shit points to precisely why. Any discussion of this needs to go to Open Mike as it will be off topic here – weka]
“this is starting to look uncomfortably like the beginning of a fully-fledged character assassination campaign. Supreme sectarian self-indulgence in Election Year (and after 3 successive election defeats for fucksake)”
More of a concern for me is why you would make that assumption about me in particular, and then even if you did wonder if it was me why you would think it’s ok to attack me as an author rather than asking if it was me and what was I doing. Seriously, wtf is going on? Not just you btw.
One thing I am noticing is that some people are choosing sides and then attacking other people who haven’t picked a side but are perceived to have. The first set of people are then blaming the second set of people for costing the left the election by being disloyal or disunited. That’s right, some lefties are attacking other lefties and blaming them for not being united. It’s daft.
If people don’t like what is going on, start talking about it. Stop attacking people and build bridges and alliances across disagreement. If you don’t want to do that, then write a guest post or do something else that is constructive. If you think that people’s behaviour is a problem, then name it and address it, but be kind if that person is your ally. Talk strategy and if you don’t like what is going on, offer a different strategy and make your case. There is no such thing as left wing unity, we’re all mad as fucking hatters for the disagreement and dissent, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work together.
The really sad thing for me about this weekend is that so few people bothered to comment on the Waitangi Day post. I think that says a lot about the current state of the commentariat on TS.
As for this post, it’s a post, not a declaration of anything. Is the person who put up the post trying to make a point about something? I have no fucking idea. What does the actual post say?
In the past Willie Jackson supported the kinds of unions that Matt McCarten does, and opposed the older style ones. That seems a relevant topic to discuss on a left wing blog that is broadly organised around the labour movement.
Does Jackson still feel that way? I would have thought that was relevant also.
Are there all sorts of politics going on around and within Labour that are obscure. I have no doubt. How are we going to respond to that?
swordfish
You are usually very reliable especially on analysing the political scene but also in other subjects. I think that 2017 is going to be very difficult and like you I support the site, that it is here at all is a little wonder of the world, and I think those of us who appreciate it will do well to withhold negative opinions about it and authors unless critically provoked.
The left being fearless about offering criticisms that diminish the left is like young troubled people ‘cutting themselves’ in a sort of modern flagellation. I think, we should make 2017 the year of living closely even when some in the group are a bit fragrant. We mustn’t get fractious and fracture ourselves, it’s the left’s weakness that must be avoided. Anyone else agree with me on this?
So if you agree with the last two points, you presumably agree that this dirty little political hitjob was a very reckless deployment of the N&F author name?
It really is just grist for the righty “TS is a left wing hivemind” mill.
Comment to weka:
I did not believe it was you who put up this post. In fact I made a comment to the effect people shouldn’t speculate but inadvertently deleted it. 🙁
Having said that not all the negative commentary here and on the other post are anti -feminist. There are others whose views are similar to mine and they also are not aimed at feminists as such. We come from a different view point which is largely to do with our concern at the over-all impact these ructions have on the Labour Party’s fortunes and indeed the Greens.
For example, there is no reason why groups of Labour members – be they an electoral committee or a special interest group – can’t write to the leader and the president of the Labour Party expressing their concerns. All such letters are read and discussed with their respective colleagues (in particular the governing body, the Labour Council) and are responded to in writing at the earliest opportunity. There was absolutely no need to go public either on facebook or online somewhere else and give our political foes yet another stick to beat us with. That is what has made me so angry because it happens time and again and these matters have a far better chance of being sorted satisfactorily if they remain in-house.
No problem with that at all Anne 🙂 and one of the things I appreciate about TS is that LP members talk here from their perspectives (you and Jenny amongst others).
I agree with your points about not all negative commentary around the Jackson issue being anti-feminist and I definitely saw that yesterday too.
There is unfortunately an anti-feminist vein in the left and here on TS. People who oppose intersectional politics risk aligning themselves with it. Attacking the only regular woman author on TS, who can’t write posts as a feminist because it’s not safe to, is a political act IMO whether intentional or not (swordfish and I have crossed swords in the past over identity politics). I saw this stuff play out long before I became an author, so it’s not about me. I think commenters need to think about what they want from TS. Lines are being drawn and it’s not looking pretty. You and I disagree on feminist issues sometimes but that doesn’t mean we can’t work to the same goals. I saw some of your comments yesterday that I disagreed with, but I don’t have a problem with that because you know how to express your opinions as your opinions and you make efforts to build bridges.
Thanks for the first sentence too, I appreciate that.
No, I don’t. Don’t be fucking thick and don’t start this here. I’ll define safe when enough of the men here start taking a genuine interest in creating a safer space for all people instead of running snowflake memes or thinking that safety = no disagreement (or worse, running that line when they know it’s not what is meant). Online safety is an actual thing, I suggest you do some research.
Yep. Agree with weka. As a participant in online discussions since about 1995/6, I have had numerous experiences of, or been witness to, some very nasty online abuse of women, and even nastier ones of lesbians.
The emotional toll can be enormous. I know of one instance where a woman with an online presence, was stalked, first online, then offline. And that was a pretty scary experience for her.
I’ll define safe when enough of the men here start taking a genuine interest in creating a safer space for all people instead of running snowflake memes or thinking that safety = no disagreement (or worse, running that line when they know it’s not what is meant).
I completely support you here weka. I am very disappointed in many of the comments here, and elsewhere, by some people who obviously have leftist tendencies, but who completely fail to understand the culture that is very dominant in NZ (and elsewhere) of denigrating women and feminists in particular. One of the fundamental platforms of the left, is the promotion of social justice for all; and that includes all women.
Weka
I liked this that you said particularly, as how to show a good attitude to the matter of women’s concerns, not only that of feminists, whichever perspective taken.
You and I disagree on feminist issues sometimes but that doesn’t mean we can’t work to the same goals. I saw some of your comments yesterday that I disagreed with, but I don’t have a problem with that because you know how to express your opinions as your opinions and you make efforts to build bridges.
Yes weka, I accept there is an anti-feminist vein that rears its ugly head here. Its hard work trying to walk the narrow line between… wanting the best chance for a Labour/Green government come the end of September… and having to face yet another mess because someone in Labour has apparently seen fit to go public about what is essentially an in-house matter.
So long as we all don’t start talking past one another… 🙂
Anne – as someone who has been observing this issue from afar – may I say just how disappointed I was to hear of the proposed parachuting of Willie Jackson into the top Labour line-up. I, as much as anyone from the left here, want to change the government, and to that end I am working hard within our electorate to that end, as are my whole family.
But my family are also working full time on programmes that are aimed at helping our young people to change from the rape and sexual abuse culture that is so prevalent in NZ society. Many here may not understand or appreciate just how prevalent it is, but I can assure them that if they were to take the time to look closely at it they would be astonished and dismayed to find just how widespread and sick it is. Whilst Willie Jackson may have “apologized” for his outburst on Radio wrt the stupid and insensitive remarks he made; essentially he disqualified himself there and then, from ever holding political office again in my humble opinion. Remember that all the women MPs on the left, and some of the men walked out of the Chamber after Key began using NZ’s rape culture to denigrate them. How can any Labour or Green or NZF woman MP work with someone who has obviously held similar views?
If there is to be any progress on improving this festering boil on our society (and believe me, it is a running sore and getting worse) then the treatment not only needs to be to relieve the symptoms, but also to treat the source. MPs must be exemplars in this regard.
BTW I am not a Labour voter and have not been for over a decade. I am a Green Party member. However I am as anxious as you are to see Labour prosper, and I look forward to our victory in September.
No matter what the strategic advantage of parachuting Jackson into a safe list position might be, I do not think that that should override principle.
Sorry weka – I realise that this is off-topic wrt to his position on the unions – a matter with which I also hold similar reservations wrt to this “anointment” – I shall not comment further.
“Remember that all the women MPs on the left, and some of the men walked out of the Chamber after Key began using NZ’s rape culture to denigrate them. How can any Labour or Green or NZF woman MP work with someone who has obviously held similar views?”
This.
(I wouldn’t worry about being offtopic, I think the thread has become so generalised now and the person who put it up can moderate if they think it’s a problem. I will still moderate here if I see people posting against the rules or in ways that are exclusionary of others.)
Macro – thank you for articulating these points. Whether TS commentators like it or not these are valid arguments that need to be aired by healthy democratic parties of the left. Since Jackson has been announced as a possible candidate, I have spoken to three women who are questioning Little’s overriding agreed upon processes of selection as well as Jackson’s suitability as a candidate. Plus, Jackson has a well established reputation as a loose cannon.
I’m trying to work out what is wrong with Willies comment, and quite frankly I can’t find one. The NZ trade union movement is a weak and pathetic excuse for worker representation. It has only produced one exceptional person in the last 35 years, and sadly she is no longer with us.
OK let’s start with weak. Two fold argument here, because it was supported by the state, it’s foundations were weak. So by the time of the neo-con revolution it was on very shaky ground. Secondly, the trade union movement in NZ has had a defensive mind set since the introduction of the Employment contracts Act. Or another way to look at it, it has become reactionary (in that it react to events rather than pushes forward an agenda), plus it has had to fight to hold onto what it has got. While some just folded. It also has not been able to support some of it’s members.
I’d argue it is the model of trade unionism itself which is at fault, not the people involved. Hence my comment of producing people of note, it’s just not capable of doing that. I really think Helen Kelly would have been exceptional, no matter what structures were in place.
As for pathetic, again it is a issue of mind set and the very limits of structure I have a issue with in the trade union movement in NZ. Very much like the craft guilds of old, they have fallen into many of the same traps. And can have the same criticisms thrown at them – the ‘closed shop’ mentality, a hierarchy that does not listen, a old boys club. To name a few. Do I need to point out the lack of Maori and Pacific in leadership rolls, when they dominate membership?
The older I get the less I want to struggle against structures and system which won’t change. The union movement in this country had to change, and radically change 30 years ago, it has not and probably will not, it is in perpetual decline. Hence why I agree with Willies statement.
Nice one adam. Having come from a pro-union (mainly because the PSA) but inactive family I’ve not had a good understanding of union politics. Comments like that are bloody useful.
hi adam, i have been wondering what a future (5-15 yrs) union looks like.
i figure helen kelly’s observation of ‘be kind to each other’ would be a cornerstone.
a collabaritive, inclusive approach to negotiations,
perhaps providing other strengths/resources eg food/gardens, childcare, aged care education..
the unions, from my sketchy recall, grew from adversity.
the employer, having such atrocious conditions, created the environment for unions flourish.
my bones tell me the way we are headed as a society, an organisation may be needed as a source of strength and resilience, like church or unions used to be.
I agree gsays, we are in a time when many structures are in decline. And I think it is wise to look back at what worked for people. So yes, a restructured union movement with more control by members and a church who is responsive to it’s flock seem to me to be the way of the future.
The unions have re-structured, but I don’t suppose that makes good news these days, and as far as I can tell they’re being led by younger, intelligent, articulate people who care about the conditions under which their workers are employed.
Come on Jenny, they have restructured within a very specific set of ideas. None of which have done much to radically change them. When, as time is my friend on this, has shown trade unions are now virtually useless at representing workers interest. Who are the unions doing anything?
If you say Etu I’m going to laugh my head off, as they seem to be doing the governments job for them, and are helping killing off the n.g.o sector with their policies.
I don’t care how much people care, it’s about working people protecting themselves, and feeling like they are doing that – that is not happening. As declining trade union numbers show, year after year.
What unions are doing things? First and Unite sure are. Willie was right at the time, and Unite’s influence in the trade union movement has been important in shaking up old bureaucracies and showing a different way things can be done. But I think it’s unproductive to shit on unions in general, when First and Unite (at least) are growing in members and running strong, successful, community based campaigns.
So where are these great number improvements? Any facts to back it up? Plus in the context of Willie comment, I would have thought unite would have been excluded, as that was the shake up that Willie was talking about.
But, it’s not enough, unite has done well, but not been able to generate great reversal in the fortune of trade unions. Which in my opinion is never going to happen. The model needs to change.
If you can’t see that I’m advocating a different approach to unionism, then sorry for you.
It is mildly interesting how the march of time makes strange bedfellows.
But I suppose that the other thing it illustrates is that smart people know when to be on the outside pissing in and on the inside pissing out – sometimes when you’ve achieved as much as you can doing one, you can achieve more switching to the other.
Why Jackson is a problematic choice for Labour is discussed in other threads. To me, this comment doesn’t strike me as being much of an issue: both sides seem to have gotten over it, otherwise he wouldn’t be joining Labour.
In defence of Willie Jackson
By Martyn Bradbury / February 6, 2017
“The last 24 hours has seen an explosion of Professional Twitter Liberals making all types of vile character assassinations against Willie Jackson, hell I even had my own Facebook page invaded by Wellington Stormtroopers trashing TDB and attacking Jackson last night.
Some of the things being said about Willie Jackson are simply purposeful manipulations by people who want to be offended and outraged.
It’s embarrassing watching your own side be so alienating.
Here are the facts:…”
Bradbury is basically now firmly in the camp against intersectional politics and solidarity. He’s saying that women, Māori, gays etc should stfu for the good of the cause (which happens to be the cause as defined by white men). Is that what you are supporting?
IMHO Bradbury has about as much political nous as a can of fish. I used to read his blog – now I seldom go there – the comments by many are even more loonie than some of the posts! – poor Frank Mac has his work cut out.
That’s one good thing, that the commentary here in TS is still relatively good even with the problems it has.
There is a shit fight going on between Bradbury and some lefties commentators, often on twitter. It’s not pretty and looking at Bradbury’s posts and tweets in recent months I think it’s clear where he’s aligning himself in a post-Tr*mp world (anti-IP and pro-himself). I think this is going to be a bigger and bigger issue in NZ until we sort it out. And likely to get nasty and cause harm.
You asked me for my opinion based on how you framed it. I don’t have one. Given the discussion I just posted the article. People can make up their own minds.
Ok, fair enough you don’t want to respond to my framing. However posting links to Bradbury’s various attacks on people is not really a neutral thing to do.
Oh I see, given that the discussion is wide ranging and he has been brought up in it, and posting links to his opinions is not being neutral? So no more links then?
“At some stage the Union bosses who employ many of these Professional Twitter Liberals are going to have to be sat down and asked how effective they think they’re being right now.”
So this blog is now promoting the idea that union staffers should be sacked.
Meanwhile, one Maori union tweeter claims to have had 3 twitter accounts trolling him yesterday, while a number of anonymous accounts on twitter were attacking anyone tweeting pro-maori stuff.
And that union tweeter is one who has no truck with rape culture, who ever promotes or re-inforces it. And i don’t think he’s on Bradbury’s Xmas card list.
NB: Not mentioning names cause I don’t want to encourage more trolling of that twitter account.
Darien, at unions more than anywhere else people shouldn’t have a lifetime guarantee of a job. Unionists aren’t paid out of the bosses pocket, they’re paid by the hard earned dollars of their members. It’s a privilege to work as a representative of the workers’ movement, so if organisers, comms people or even admin staff at unions aren’t doing a good job at representing the interests of their members they should be let go. I don’t have an opinion about the people Bomber is talking about, but it shouldn’t be sacrilege to speak about underperforming union officials losing their job.
There’s something odd about bomber being a chicken little yelling that the Labour sky is falling apart, when by doing so he exagerrates the supposed divisions within Labour and tries to turn a disagreement into a crisis
This is a disgraceful saga being played out, I’ve had a spring in my step thinking Labour is positioned nicely to end this terrible regime in power. And we get this carry on being aired in public. Wise up people and keep to the big picture stuff.
“If you believe in freedom of speech, you believe in freedom of speech for views you don’t like. Goebbels was in favor of freedom of speech for views he liked. So was Stalin. If you’re in favor of freedom of speech, that means you’re in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise….With regard to freedom of speech there are basically two positions: you defend it vigorously for views you hate, or you reject it and prefer Stalinist/fascist standards. It is unfortunate that it remains necessary to stress these simple truths.”
Doesn’t look to me like anyone is arguing against Willie’s freedom of speech.
Looks to me like the disputes are about whether it’s a good idea for Labour to welcome Willie back and give him a high profile and high list placing. And whether other senior people in Labour have handled the question well.
Possibly it’s a case of not understanding that free speech has consequences. One of which is that other people will exercise their equal right to free speech.
That’s it, in a nutshell, Andre.
And instead of going to privately to the leadership and NZ Council about their concerns, some Labour people are expressing their dislike in public. Like Anne, and Skinny, this sort of behaviour makes me feel extremely angry – and frustrated.
Labour is on the cusp of pushing this nasty government out, and our own people are destroying that possibility. Its time for them to pull their heads in and have a good internal think to themselves about what it is, they are actually doing.
As you well know Jenny : this was a public announcement from the leader. Perhaps a bit of foresight about consulting members, including council members and even members might have been wise.
Well, we know he discussed the matter with Poto Williams in advance. I can’t imagine Andrew Little making such an announcement without fairly extensive consultation beforehand.
And maybe they did think there would be a reaction, but that it would remain in-house.
By the way, Two brief video media interviews with Andrew Little today 7 Feb 2017, at approximately 1.45pm before Parliament resumed.
One is about medicinal and recreational use of cannabis, the other is the Willie Jackson saga
If you cannot listen to these videos, the basis of the chats were as follows :
On medicinal cannabis, Labour would enable its use as soon as it had the privilege of becoming govt. On recreational cannabis, Andrew Little and other MPs have concerns about the use of cannabis by young people – whose brains are not fully developed until they reach their mid-20s, and whose brains could be damaged by the use of cannabis. Much more information and research is needed before such a decision could be made.
On Willie Jackson – yes, Andrew Little was aware there would be concerns, but Willie Jackson would bring into the Party the facility to help Labour connect with urban Maori and disadvantaged Maori – which has not been easily achieved before. He also said Labour is a Party of values and those values include redemption for someone who has done wrong (those were not his exact words, but he talked about Jackson “redeeming himself” and he thought the Party should give him the chance to do so).
and apologies for going off-topic with the cannabis one, but I cannot remember now which video is which – and I copied them both onto the same bit of paper. I think the WJ one might be the second one.
The point about redemption is reasonable in general. In this case there will be many people for whom the original remarks were so hurtful and destructive as to require an extraordinary level of forgiveness.
I don’t think that’s been adequately acknowledged by Little or Jackson. As for whether Jackson’s subsequent actions meet the standard generally, I’d like to hear Louise Nicholas’ and other women’s opinion of that.
plus another one
Made headline news tonight I see and some wayward souls were reportedly told to pull their heads in by Little. Righly so, thought he looked convincing.
People make mistakes, Jackson is prone to stupid utterances, hes sure not the only one, no doubt he will get the pull your head in speech at some stage himself . Roast busters doesnt make him a rapist as a radio shock jock he was surely encouraged to create drama, hes smart enough to have the ability to get over himself -lets hope he does.
The Standard machine still must have been short circuiting to post the above inflammatory quote. Not smart.
Final thought, can you imagine what Helen Clark would have done to those speaking out publically on this?
I work for the L.P. on a voluntary basis to get labour elected at the next election.
I don’t think we need to be airing our dirty laundry in public. By doing this we are doing nationals job for them.
I think it is very poor judgement by Poto Williams to put this issue in the public arena.
Cant you hear the voters saying Labour are a shambles cant even get their house in order.
Williams has every right to air her views but for christ sake do it in house. I don’t want my voluntary work to be in vain once again.
As for Poto Williams saying she wants an apology for something Willie Jackson has apologised for already on several occasions makes you wonder who Williams thinks she is
Hear, hear Kiwikeith. Commonsense comments. Why is Poto Williams wanting a personal apology to herself. I have never seen or heard of her speaking out on women’s issues before.
For about the first time ever I agree with the Daily Blog on this issue and feel very disappointed at the lack of unity and support for Labour here.
I did not “make that up”. That is a mischief-making response Weka. I was following on from Kiwi Keith’s post which mentioned an apology being asked for by Poto Williams.
Would you like to respond to my comment about Poto Williams’ very low profile supporting women’s issues previously. We have all heard of Louise Nicholas’ work on behalf of women but not Poto Williams.
[you have until the end of the day to exact quote and link to where Williams has said she is wanting “a personal apology to herself” (your words not Keith’s), or to withdraw your comment and acknowledge you made it up. Otherwise expect a ban – weka]
I completely disagree, if Labour doesn’t want it’s ‘dirty laundry’ aired in public, then it should stop making dirty right wing skid marks everywhere.
Also, I am not sure if you have noticed, but the western centre left neo liberal project is pretty much done and dusted, and these ideologically driven free market parties still blindly chasing the centre and centre right votes instead of the left and centre Left are destroying or are about to destroy them selves one at a time.
Monday morning political commentary on RNZ just now didn’t discuss either Williams’ statement or the internal Labour issues. They did talk about the Māori politics involved in Jackson joining Labour and the Mp/Mana agreement over the Māori seats.
Google news search suggests that other MSM aren’t that interested in the Williams issue or the internal issues. I’m putting this down to Little’s evenhanded approach over the weekend, and that it was Waitangi Day. I guess that might change depending on what Little does next.
Giovanni Tiso added,
Katie Bradford @katieabradford
Andrew Little says caucus will this morning discuss the Willie Jackson issue & Poto Williams decision to speak out publicly against him
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 59m
I can tell you the outcome already. A couple of highly placed MPs will speak highly of Jackson after the meeting. 1/2
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 58m
Williams will be quietly reminded of the need for party discipline in an election year. No-one will speak of Young Labour’s letter.
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 54m
It’s classic authoritarian leadership: Little announced candidacy and list placing before the council had an opportunity to debate issue…
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 53m
…leaving them with no option but to fast-track Jackson as the loss of face for the leader so close to the election would be catastrophic.
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 41m
And while Little makes reassuring noises about “reasonable concerns”, the conservative left gets to have a go at Wellington liberals…
That framing does sound like one way of stomping on the embers. Guarantees a flare-up later on, though.
Especially problematic is that Williams was fulfilling the brief she was given – if the issue hadn’t been satisfactorily resolved internally, publicly was the way to go. And, all things considered, her comments were moderate and reasonable. They should be met with a moderate and reasonable response.
In that case, Little should clarify that any announcement he or Labour has made was of course subject to approval of the democratic processes within the Labour party and sorry that wasn’t made explicit, and Jackson should show a little bit of humility to people’s valid concerns about his statements.
Yep, and Williams’ statement left an opening for both Little and Jackson to do the right thing and Jackson to join Labour. The thing I’m with is how much I still think that Labour might do something good here 🙄
“But Labour Party president Nigel Haworth said Willie Jackson’s candidacy wasn’t a done deal.
Mr Haworth said he would have to go through the same selection process as any other potential candidate.
Mr Jackson will need to join the party and then get a waiver because he hasn’t been a member for the required period.
He will also have to go through the party’s moderation process, where his application will be considered by 22 people made up of the council and three caucus members.
“Part of political leadership is actually the ability to ram things through without getting bogged down in endless debate”
oh my GAWD, rodger douglas is back in the house … We are setting ourselves up for another rogue Labour Govt… looks like another three years of Nats would be better option now .. eeeeeeeccckk
David lange was nothing like rodger douglas either. My point is , winning is actually not the first priority, and there are much worse outcomes than loseing
And Andrew Little is not like David Lange either. Kicking National out is a priority imo. Can’t think of anything worse than this current National government remaining in power, can you?
“Can’t think of anything worse than this current National government remaining in power, can you?”
yes I can !
For instance a labour government a la 1984 roger douglas that “ram things through without getting bogged down in endless debate” and impose ultra right agenda without any mandate to do so!
the most important thing is to be able to govern!
thats actually more important than getting hands on levers!
Sorry but the aquisition of willie and greg makes me think these thoughts and i am sure i am not the only one.
No, you would not be the only one, but others may see “the acquisition of Willie and Greg” as a tactical move that is part of the strategy to oust out National.
Andrew Little and the current Labour party are not the “Labour government a la 1984 Roger Douglas” though.
But in order to govern, don’t you need to get your hands on the levers first?
“But in order to govern, don’t you need to get your hands on the levers first?”
Well that is arse aboot in my book.
If not able to govern then please step away from the levers would be my advice.
the evedince (willie and greg) is that they havent a clue. I do not trust them with any levers thanks
But if you are not able to govern, you wouldnt be near the levers in the first place. In regards to Willie and Greg, others may or may not hold your view.
Not completely. National do know that they will inevitably lose at some point. They and their business and media supporters put great effort into influencing what an incoming Labour-led government will feel inclined or able to do. For instance the 2000 bogus ‘winter of discontent’ manufactured by Fran O’Sullivan, the championing of David Shearer as a replacement for Goff run by Matthew Hooten, the vicious lies/distortions about Cunliffe and Donghua Liu from John Armstrong. It is Important to National that the structures of privilege are not unpicked while they are out of office – then when they get back in they can double down.
Sorry off-topic somewhat
Contrast the reception Willie has received from the NZLP brass as a non-Labour member grandstanding vs the chilly brushoff Laila Harré received when she mentioned she was rejoining Labour.
All in the name of a bit of utu against the Maori Party and Tuku Morgan.
Poto Williams makes her statement all about her in repeatedly using the first person. for example I am yet to hear that he understands, I am yet to hear that he wishes to work on putting that right and apologise for his behaviour, I welcome the opportunity
to support Jackson in apologising and making those changes.
The fact is he has apologised on several occasions but obviously this is not good enough for Poto Williams.
I wonder if i receive an apology from Williams for underminig the traction that labour had gotten in the last few weeks
Andrew Little will have told her in no uncertain terms that if she has a problem with someone, she needs to talk to that person, not to the media. And that applies to everyone in caucus and to aspiring Labour MPs. Complaining to the media about one of their own is a mug’s game.
[lprent: You really are a bit of a silly fuckwit. She didn’t “complain to the media”. She put it on her Facebook page. Banned for 2 weeks for lying and general inaccuracy. Please lift your game. Being a STUPID troll is unacceptable. ]
If that’s true, I’d expect to see her firmly punished for actively lobbying her own party via the media. Not OK at. any time, and certainly not in an election year.
If its true then it tells me she did not have majority support for her stand in the caucus…
There’s a small group of young(ish) brats individuals – most of whom live in Wellington – who I understand have been fomenting mischief behind the scenes on and off for a few years now… mostly for what they perceive to be in their mutual interest. Some of them are even parliamentary staffers or at least they were in the past. Shame, because the vast majority of young folk in the Labour Party are a credit to the party and to their generation. One of them, who goes by the pseudonym ‘The Fan Club’ (TFC for short) popped up on this site yesterday after a lengthy absence, and had a nasty dig at Andrew Little. No coincidence in my view. Andrew Little will know who they are, and their machinations will come to nought while he is leader. 🙂
I’d expect to see her firmly punished for actively lobbying her own party via the media. Not OK at. any time, and certainly not in an election year.
Ummm. This appears to be exactly the same thing that Andrew Little was doing as well. I seem to remember a few standups where he made a few claims about what he was doing for Willie. Tell me, was his peremptory action approved by caucus, the shadow cabinet, or the Labour council after the usual due process?
Which is of course what should have happened on question of a list selection. And yet you seem to have a different standard for someone making a statement on her allocated area of expertise and as an elected MP to voice disapproval of the attempt to bypass process and talk to media. She did it without sneaking around in the middle of the night shoving envelopes under press gallery doors, and with her name attached.
Do I sense a double standard? Incidentally if I was wanting to get a statement out to media and didn’t have TS to do it, then I suspect that a PR firm with expertise and a mailing list would probably be an effective way to do it.
Little deserves a telling-off from his party President – and Williams from her caucus leader. Plus whatever needs to happen to make sure this does not repeat itself this side of the election. Please.
Pretty reasonable in the context: she outlines what her role is in the party and how that obliges her to speak out on domestic violence and on this occasion in particular.
She then carefully explains the situation as she sees it:
I appreciate that Mr Jackson may regret his comments, but I am yet to hear that he understands his attitudes and views are highly offensive to many New Zealanswrs. I’m yet to hear that he wishes to work on putting that right and apologise for his behaviour.
That gives everyone an out. Maybe she missed a genuine apology from WJ. Maybe he can treat it seriously and apologise with a straight face. She’s not demanding he apologise to her, she’s demanding that his apology be as public and as comprehensive as his original statements, and that he genuinely communicate that he knows why what he said was wrong.
And when there is a nationwide campaign to get people to speak up about domestic violence, and the party allegedly opposes domestic violence, surely at the very least the caucus spokesperson on the issue of domestic violence is required to be seen to speak up?
Him starting another apology by telling the media that he’s apologised all these times already, and then still not giving an actual apology… it’s not wonder so many people don’t believe him.
[lprent: You really are a bit of a silly fuckwit. She didn’t “complain to the media”. She put it on her Facebook page. Banned for 2 weeks for lying and general inaccuracy. Please lift your game. Being a STUPID troll is unacceptable. ]
Ummmm no, she hired a PR company to write and seed it with the media.
How come the Standard can dredge up a 12 year interview with Willie Jackson, but can’t notice a story breaking just 2 hours ago that Poto Williams hired a PR team to write the attack on Willie Jackson and that they seeded it with media before hand.
You’ve all been taken in like chumps, but refuse to admit it.
This unbelievable division is why Labour can’t win elections.
Perhaps you should look at the dates and times. You appear to be confused about them.
You are looking at a story that apparently got released today, and then apparently telling me that Ross knew about it yesterday. This is possible I guess. But I and other authors don’t spend our work time reading news.
Now I have no idea if you actually work for a living or if you are just a parasite on The Daily Blog. But I know that I do, and so do almost all of the authors at TS. That is why the site is voluntary. It is also why we let comments through without having to manually release them and why we ban people who break our rules and trust. Unlike you we treat commenters as adults until they prove themselves not to be.
It is also why we have far more comments and readers. We do not censor under the covers like you do.
Quite how you can think that I can moderate yesterday based on story from today is a mystery. But you do appear to be somewhat confused about most things.
Edit: I also put this comment with a minor variation on TDB. It will be interesting if the thin-skinned avenger will publish it… Bets anyone.
Oh Lynn, you sad old tyrant – what about Ross – can we free Ross from your ban?
Come on champ, you’ve been chumped – let’s get back to the actual issue which is Poto hired a PR firm to slag off Willie Jackson and in turn undermine Little leadership – you claimed (falsely it turns out) that she didn’t contact the media.
Now – can we just let poor old Ross comment on this horrendous blog you host (I’m nt sure why Ross would want to do that) but maybe you could just imagine that your anger was misplaced and you could give Ross a break Lynn?
This point is critical and needs sorting – did Poto Williams use a PR company to contact the media? And therefore was Ross not lying after all, and does he deserve an apology and reinstatement?
If you want to persist in violating the site policy, then I’d be happy to demonstrate a few of the sanctions we use to dissuade in stupidly questioning moderation.
After all, you don’t have anything like the level of skin in the game if we get it wrong and publish defamatory statements.
And aren’t neo-liberal barbarians like you all about taking the responsibility for your own actions and demanding the authority to take it. Mind you I have never actually noticed it really happening. I rather think it is simply another idiotic myth by a small group of whiners..
Please note I wasn’t making claims, Bradbury did that. I was suggesting that his assertion needed to be confirmed or refuted. You claim to have done that and I will accept it. BTW I wear the neoliberal (i.e. libertarian) label with pride.
What I was saying from the start of the typically logic free bradbury braying was that the claim was completely irrelevant to the moderation.
I can only look at what is in front of me at the time I moderate. That means what is in the comment and (if I am generous) what is in the news at the time. The legal obligation that I have under defamation law is based around knowingly publishing false fact.
Most people are pretty good about not doing that. Those who are not, in my view, don’t deserve to maintain their commenting abilities here. In practice most of them will learn from experience.
Some like Bradbury appear to be a bit defective in the learning department.
Ah no. Why? Because you are completely wrong and somewhat stupid about thinking on moderation – as I have pointed out several times before.
Unless he could show me yesterday how he knew then that something that only came out today, then he lied yesterday. That was what he was banned for.
The behaviour of directly lying about someone and not offering up proof or backing is both morally reprehensible (although I notice that you never seem to get too worried about it) and legally precarious across a number of civil and even criminal acts.
The offense in civil defamation law is not about what I (or Ross) learnt after the event. It is what was known at the time.
But I suspect you are a bit too self-adsorbed with yourself to understand the finer points of legal principle. Do you EVER bother to think when you write things down?
Putting this site in legal danger is something that I take very seriously because if the fucker did it once then they will do it again.
Especially as he doesn’t apply the label to himself. Some of the stories that his female ex-authors tell would tend to indicate that he is at least two out of the three.
Perhaps he is so hot on Willie because in reality he favours the interview style that Willie used in the RoastBuster interview of a young woman talking about a rape culture in schools.
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by Don Franks Poverty in New Zealand today has new ugly features. Adequate housing is beyond the reach of thousands. More and more people full time workers must beg food parcels from charities. Having no attainable prospects, young people lash out and steal. A response to poverty from The Daily ...
Drought: the past is no longer prologue Drought management in the United States (and elsewhere) is highly informed by events of the past, employing records extending 60 years or longer in order to plan for and cope with newly emerging meterorological water deficits. Water resource managers and agricultural concerns use ...
The government announced its budget today, with Finance Minister Grant Robertson giving the usual long speech about how much money they're spending. The big stuff was climate change and health, with the former being pre-announced, and most of the latter being writing off DHB's entirely fictional "debt" to the the ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has delivered a Budget that will many asking “Is that all there is?” There is a myriad of initiatives and there is increased spending, but strangely it doesn’t really add up to much at all for those hoping for a more traditional Labour-style Budget. The headline ...
Last year, Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau stood down as a minister after being charged with conspiracy to defraud after an investigation into corruption in Infrastructure Cook Islands and the National Environment Service. He hasn't been tried yet, but this week he has been reinstated: The seven-month ...
A ballot for three member's bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Repeal of Good Friday and Easter Sunday as Restricted Trading Days (Shop Trading and Sale of Alcohol) Amendment Bill (Chris Baillie) Electoral (Strengthening Democracy) Amendment Bill (Golriz Ghahraman) Increased Penalties for ...
No Jesus Here.She rises, unrested, and stepsOnto the narrow balconyTo find the day. To greetThe Sunday God she sings to.But this morning His face is clouded.Grey and wet as a corpseWashed by tears.Behind her, in the tangled bedding,the children bicker and whine.Worrying the cheap furnitureLike hungry puppies.They clutch at her ...
After two years of Corona-induced online meetings in 2020 and 2021, this year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) will take place as a hybrid conference in both Vienna and online from May 23 to 27. To take hybrid and necessary hygiene restrictions into account, there (unfortunately) will be no ...
“Māori star lore was, and still remains, a blending together of both astronomy and astrology, and while there is undoubtedly robust science within the Māori study of the night sky, the spiritual component has always been of equal importance” writes Professor Rangi Matamua in his book Matariki – Te whetū tapu ...
The foibles of the Aussie electoral system are pretty well-known. The Lucky Country doesn’t have proportional representation. Voting for everyone over 18 is compulsory, but within a preferential system. This means that in the relatively few key seats that decide the final result, it can be the voters’ second, third ...
Julia Steinberger is an ecological economist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. She first posted this piece at Medium.com, and it was reposted on Yale Climate Connections with her permission. Today I went to give a climate talk at my old high school in Geneva – and was given a ...
A/Prof Ben Gray* Gray B. Government funding of interpreters in Primary Care is needed to ensure quality care. Public Health Expert Blog.17 May 2022. The pandemic has highlighted many problems in the NZ health system. This blog will address the question of availability of interpreters for people with limited English ...
I have suggested previously that sometimes Tolkien’s writer-instincts get the better of him. Sometimes he departs from his own cherished metaphysics, in favour of the demands of story – and I dare say, that is a good thing. Laws and Customs of the Eldar might be an interesting insight ...
One of the key planks of yesterday's Emissions Reduction Plan is a $650 million fund to help decarbonise industry by subsidising replacement of dirty technologies with clean ones. But National leader Chris Luxon derides this as "corporate welfare". Which probably sounds great to the business ideologues in the Koru club. ...
Poisonous! From a very early age New Zealanders are warned to give small black spiders with a red blotch on their abdomens a wide berth. The Katipo, we are told, is venomous: and while its bite may not kill you, it can make you very unwell. That said, isn’t the ...
“The truth prevails, but it’s a chore.” – Jan Masaryk: The intensification of ideological pressures is bearable for only so-long before ordinary men and women reassert the virtues of tolerance and common sense.ON 10 MARCH 1948, Jan Masaryk, the Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, was found dead below his bathroom window. ...
Clearly, the attempt to take the politics out of climate change has itself been a political decision, and one meant to remove much of the heat from the global warming issue before next year’s election. What we got from yesterday’s $2.9 billion Emissions Reduction Plan was a largely aspirational multi-party ...
Michelle Uriarau (Mana Wāhine Kōrero) talks to Dane Giraud of the Free Speech Union LISTEN HERE Michelle Uriarau is a founding member of Mana Wāhine Kōrero – an advocacy group of and for Māori women who took strong positions against the ‘Self ID’ and ‘Conversion Practises Bills’. One of the ...
If we needed any confirmation, we have it in spades in today’s edition of the Herald; our supposedly leading daily newspaper is determined to do what it can to decide the outcome of the next election – to act, that is, not as a newspaper but as the mouthpiece for ...
Sean Plunkett, founding editor of the new media outlet, The Platform, was interviewed on RNZ's highly regarded flagship programme "Mediawatch".Mr Plunkett has made much about "cancel culture" and "de-platforming". On his website promoting The Platform, he outlines his mission statement thusly:The Platform is for everyone; we’re not into cancelling or ...
“That’s a C- for History, Kelvin!”While it is certainly understandable that Māori-Crown Relations Minister Kelvin Davis was not anxious to castigate every Pakeha member of the House of Representatives for the crimes committed against his people by their ancestors; crimes from which his Labour colleagues continue to draw enormous benefits; the ...
The Government promised a major reform of New Zealand’s immigration system, but when it was announced this week, many asked “is that it?” Over the last two years Covid has turned the immigration tap off, and the Government argued this produced the perfect opportunity to reassess decades of “unbalanced immigration”. ...
While the new fiscal rules may not be contentious, what they mean for macroeconomic management is not explained.In a pre-budget speech on 3 May 2022, the Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson, made some policy announcements which will frame both this budget and future ones. (The Treasury advice underpinning them is ...
Under MMP, Parliament was meant to look like New Zealand. And, in a lot of ways, it does now, with better representation for Māori, tangata moana, women, and the rainbow community replacing the old dictatorship of dead white males. But there's one area where "our" parliament remains completely unrepresentative: housing: ...
Justice Denied: At the heart of the “Pro-Life” cause was something much darker than conservative religious dogma, or even the oppressive designs of “The Patriarchy”. The enduring motivation – which dares not declare itself openly – is the paranoid conviction of male white supremacists that if “their” women are given ...
In case of emergency break glass— but glass can cut Fire extinguishers, safety belts, first aid kits, insurance policies, geoengineering: we never enjoy using them. But given our demonstrated, deep empirical record of proclivity for creating hazards and risk we'd obviously be foolish not to include emergency responses in our inventory. ...
After a brief hiatus, the “A View from Afar” podcast is back on air with Selwyn Manning leading the Q&A with me. This week is a grab bag of topics: Russian V-Day celebrations, Asian and European elections, and the impact of the PRC-Solomon Islands on the regional strategic balance. Plus ...
Last year, Vanuatu passed a "cyber-libel" law. And predictably, its first targets are those trying to hold the government to account: A police crackdown in Vanuatu that has seen people arrested for allegedly posting comments on social media speculating politicians were responsible for the country’s current Covid outbreak has ...
Could it be a case of not appreciating what you’ve got until it’s gone? The National Party lost Simon Bridges last week, which has reinforced the notion that the party still has some serious deficits of talent and diversity. The major factor in Bridges’ decision to leave was his failed ...
Who’s Missing From This Picture? The re-birth of the co-governance concept cannot be attributed to the institutions of Pakeha rule, at least, not in the sense that the massive constitutional revisions it entails have been presented to and endorsed by the House of Representatives, and then ratified by the citizens of New ...
Fiji signed onto China’s Belt and Road initiative in 2018, along with a separate agreement on economic co-operation and aid. Yet it took the recent security deal between China and the Solomon Islands to get the belated attention of the US and its helpmates in Canberra and Wellington, and the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Lexi Smith and Bud Ward “CRA” It’s one of those acronyms even many-a-veteran environmental policy geek may not recognize. Amidst the scores and scores of acronyms in the field – CERCLA, IPCC, SARA, LUST, NPDES, NDCs, FIFRA, NEPA and scores more – ...
In a nice bit of news in a World Gone Mad, I can report that Of Tin and Tintagel, my 5,800-word story about tin (and political scheming), is now out as part of the Spring 2022 edition of New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). As noted previously, this one owes a ...
Dr Jennifer Summers, Professor Michael Baker, Professor Nick Wilson* Summers J, Baker M, Wilson N. Covid-19 Case-Fatality Risk & Infection-Fatality Risk: important measures to help guide the pandemic response. Public Health Expert Blog. 11 May 2022. In this blog we explore two useful mortality indicators: Case-Fatality Risk (CFR) and Infection-Fatality ...
The proposed reclassification of stewardship land on the West Coast doesn’t go far enough to protect nature and the area’s spectacular landscapes, plants and wildlife, the Green Party says. ...
We’ve worked hard to make sure our communities are safer places for everyone to live. Since taking office in 2017, we’ve delivered New Zealand’s largest Police force ever, taken action on gang violence, and extended successful rehabilitation programmes to break the cycle of offending. We have seen a significant reduction ...
The Green Party is again calling on the Government to review the economic response to COVID-19, as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand puts up the Official Cash Rate today to 2 percent. ...
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s latest step toward electoral reform, which begins to fulfil an important part of the Co-operation Agreement between the two parties. ...
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Mr Speaker, It has taken four-and-a-half years to even start to turn the legacy of inaction and neglect from the last time they were in Government together. And we have a long journey in front of us! ...
Today Greens Te Mātāwaka Chair and Health Spokesperson, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, said “The Greens have long campaigned for an independent Māori Health Authority and pathways for Takatāpui and Rainbow healthcare. “We welcome the substantial funding going into the new health system, Pae Ora, particularly for the Māori Health Authority, Iwi-Partnership ...
Budget 2022 shows progress on conservation commitments in the Green Party’s cooperation agreement Green Party achievements in the last Government continue to drive investment in nature protection Urgent action needed on nature-based solutions to climate change Future budget decisions must reflect the role nature plays in helping reduce emissions ...
Landmark week for climate action concludes with climate budget Largest ever investment in climate action one of many Green Party wins throughout Budget 2022 Budget 2022 delivers progress on every part of the cooperation agreement with Labour Budget 2022 is a climate budget that caps a landmark week ...
Green Party welcomes extension to half price fares Permanent half price fares for Community Services Card holders includes many students, which helps implement a Green Party policy Work to reduce public transport fares for Community Services Card holders started by Greens in the last Government Budget 2022 should be ...
New cost of living payment closely aligned to Green Party policy to expand the Winter Energy Payment Extension and improvement of Warmer Kiwi Homes builds on Green Party progress in Government Community energy fund welcomed The Green Party welcomes the investment in Budget 2022 to expand Warmer Kiwi ...
Budget 2022 support to reduce homelessness delivers on the Green Party’s cooperation agreement Bespoke support for rangatahi with higher, more complex needs The Green Party welcomes the additional investment in Budget 2022 for kaupapa Māori support services, homelessness outreach services, the expansion of transitional housing, and a new ...
Green Party reaffirms call for liveable incomes and wealth tax Calls on Government to cancel debt owed to MSD for hardship assistance such as benefit advances, and for over-payments The Green Party welcomes the support for people on low incomes Budget 2022 but says more must be done ...
Our Government has just released this year’s Budget, which sets out the next steps in our plan to build a high wage, low carbon economy that gives economic security in good times and in bad. It’s full of initiatives that speed up our economic recovery and ease cost pressures for ...
A stronger democracy is on the horizon, as Golriz Ghahraman’s Electoral (Strengthening Democracy) Amendment Bill was pulled from the biscuit tin today. ...
Tomorrow, the Government will release this year’s Budget, setting out the next steps in our plan to build a high wage, low carbon economy that gives economic security in good times and in bad. While the full details will be kept under wraps until Thursday afternoon, we’ve announced a few ...
As a Government, we made it clear to New Zealanders that we’d take meaningful action on climate change, and that’s exactly what we’ve done. Earlier today, we released our next steps with our Emissions Reduction Plan – which will meet the Climate Commission’s independent science-based emissions reduction targets, and new ...
Emissions Reduction Plan prepares New Zealand for the future, ensuring country is on track to meet first emissions budget, securing jobs, and unlocking new investment ...
The Greens are calling for the Government to reconsider the immigration reset so that it better reflects our relationship with our Pacific neighbours. ...
Hamilton City Council and Whanganui District Council have both joined a growing list of Local Authorities to pass a motion in support of Green Party Drug Reform Spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick’s Members’ bill to minimise alcohol harm. ...
Today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a major package of reforms to address the immediate skill shortages in New Zealand and speed up our economic growth. These include an early reopening to the world, a major milestone for international education, and a simplification of immigration settings to ensure New Zealand ...
Proposed immigration changes by the Government fail to guarantee pathways to residency to workers in the types of jobs deemed essential throughout the pandemic, by prioritising high income earners - instead of focusing on the wellbeing of workers and enabling migrants to put down roots. ...
Ehara taku toa i te toa takatahi, engari taku toa he toa takimano – my strength is not mine alone but the strength of many (working together to ensure safe, caring respectful responses). We are striving for change. We want all people in Aotearoa New Zealand thriving; their wellbeing enhanced ...
The Green Party is throwing its support behind the 10,000 allied health workers taking work-to-rule industrial action today because of unfair pay and working conditions. ...
Investing in whenua Māori will help whānau, hapū and iwi create income opportunities and drive economic security in Aotearoa, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson said. The Government is investing $10 million to boost Māori landowners to realise their aspirations for their whenua. “This investment in whenua Māori delivers on ...
An independent assessment of stewardship land on the West Coast has delivered recommendations for revised land classifications, Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. Stewardship land is the term given for land that was allocated to DOC when it was formed in 1987, but had yet to be given a specific ...
Investing in protecting mātauranga Māori and tāonga will unlock significant economic and cultural benefits for Aotearoa, Associate Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta announced today. Te Pae Tawhiti programme which supports research and innovation in the Maori economy is getting a further $27.6 million investment over the next four years. ...
Māori primary and community care providers will be supported to lift their capability, capacity, and service sustainability through a $30 million investment from Budget 2022, Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare announced today while visiting Mahitahi Hauora in Whangārei. “Māori providers play a critical role in our response to COVID-19, ...
Second COVID-19 booster recommended for the most vulnerable 6 months after first booster Several hundred thousand people will be eligible Legislative change to enable rollout from mid-June People who are at high-risk of getting very sick from a COVID-19 infection will soon be eligible to receive a second booster, ...
E oku manukura, nga pou haemata o te ngahere. e Piko o Te Mahuri, tera te tipu o te rakau. E tipu, e rea, ka puta, ka ora. Tena koutou katoa. President Bacow, Provost Garber, Governing Boards and deans, And most importantly, graduates. In Te Reo Māori, the ...
The Franklin community have a safer journey to work, school and into Auckland with the construction of Glenbrook Roundabout on State Highway 22. Minister of Transport, Michael Wood, attended an event today that marked the completion of the last major milestone of the project. The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s ...
People battling with eating disorders can expect more support being available with additional funding allocated. In addition to the $15.5 million spent each year, $3.9 million in extra funding over four years has been secured as part of Budget 2022. “This will help increase the capacity of eating disorder services ...
New workforce frameworks launched today will make an important difference to people impacted by family violence by strengthening responses and ensuring services support people’s safety, and long-term healing and wellbeing. “People have long been asking for workforces capable of providing safe, consistent, and effective responses to family violence, in ways ...
The Government is providing further support to help Police protect small businesses affected by a spike in ram raids, Minister of Police Poto Williams says. $6 million from the Proceeds of Crime Fund will be invested in a crime prevention programme to be managed by Police which will include solutions ...
Associate Minister of Education (Māori) Kelvin Davis has today announced 51 education resources that will help bring Mātauranga Māori to life. “Matariki is our first uniquely te ao Māori public holiday and is a time for us to remember the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. Matariki ...
Budget 2022 has taken capital investment in school property under this Government to $3.6 billion since 2018, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “A further $777m in capital investment means new schools and kura, more classrooms, and includes $219m in capital funding that will go directly to schools over the ...
60,000 more people to receive screening each year. Over $36 million across four years to shift the starting age for bowel screening from 60 years old to 50 years old for Māori and Pacific people. Associate Ministers of Health Peeni Henare and Aupito William Sio say Budget 2022 will ...
Budget 2022 will deliver 1900 new health workers and will support 2700 more students into training programmes through a $76 million investment to continue to grow the health workforce for our Māori and Pacific communities, Associate Ministers of Health Peeni Henare and Aupito William Sio announced today. “This Budget specifically ...
The Government has appointed a Startup Advisors’ Council to help identify and address the opportunities and challenges facing high growth start-up businesses, Research, Science, and Innovation Minister Megan Woods, and Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash have announced. “Startups are major contributors to the knowledge and innovation that we ...
Hundreds of New Zealand companies are set to benefit from the launch of two new grants aimed at fuelling firms that want to innovate, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods says. “This $250 million investment over the next four years is a sign of my commitment to some of ...
New Zealand’s legal aid scheme will be significantly strengthened with further investment from Budget 2022, Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi announced today. “Budget 2022 will help around 93,000 more people be eligible for legal aid from January 2023, fulfilling our election promise to make improvements to our court system so ...
Investing in the Māori media sector over the next two years will support the industry while it transitions to a new public media environment, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. “By capturing and sharing local stories and innovative Māori content with New Zealand audiences, across a range of ...
The Government has today confirmed key details of the nationwide rollout of cameras on commercial fishing vessels. Up to 300 inshore fishing vessels will be fitted with the technology by the end of 2024, providing independent, accurate information about fishing activity and better evidence for decision-making,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
It is my pleasure to be here at TRENZ 2022. This is an event that continues to facilitate connection, collaboration and engagement between our businesses and key overseas markets. The conversations that happen here will play a crucial role in shaping New Zealand’s tourism recovery. That’s why TRENZ remains such ...
Māori businesses will play a vital role to help lift whānau Māori aspirations and dreams for a better life, while reinforcing New Zealand’s economic security. A successful Progressive Procurement initiative to diversify government spend on goods and services and increase Māori business engagement with government procurement is getting a further ...
The continued Budget 22 investment into the Cadetship programmes will ensure Māori thrive in the labour market, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. The Government will invest $25 million into the Cadetships programme, delivered by Te Puni Kōkiri. As the whole world struggles with rising inflation, the Government’s ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Minister of Defence Peeni Henare today announced the extension of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployment to Solomon Islands, as part of the Pacific-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). “Aotearoa New Zealand and Solomon Islands have an enduring and long-standing partnership,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Minister of Defence Peeni Henare today announced the extension of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployment to Solomon Islands, as part of the Pacific-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). “Aotearoa New Zealand and Solomon Islands have an enduring and long-standing partnership,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
Director-General, esteemed fellow Ministers, and colleagues, tēnā koutou katoa. Greetings to all. Aotearoa New Zealand is alarmed at the catastrophic and complex health crisis evolving in Ukraine. We reiterate our call for an immediate end to Russian hostilities against Ukraine. Chair, this 75th Session of the World Health Assembly comes at ...
As part of a regular review by the Department of Internal Affairs, the fees for New Zealand passports will increase slightly due to the decrease in demand caused by COVID-19. Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti says that the Government has made every effort to keep the increase to a minimum ...
The Government is providing additional support to the Buller District Council to assist the recovery from the February 2022 floods, Minister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan announced today. “The Buller District has experienced two significant floods in short succession, resulting in significant impacts for the community and for Council to ...
New Zealand is a step closer to a more resilient, competitive, and sustainable coastal shipping sector following the selection of preferred suppliers for new and enhanced coastal shipping services, Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced today. “Coastal shipping is a small but important part of the New Zealand freight system, ...
Tēnā koutou katoa It’s a pleasure to speak to you today on how we are tracking with the resource management reforms. It is timely, given that in last week’s Budget the Government announced significant funding to ensure an efficient transition to the future resource management system. There is broad consensus ...
Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis have welcomed the release of a paper from independent advisory group, Taumata Aronui, outlining the group’s vision for Māori success in the tertiary education system. “Manu Kōkiri – Māori Success and Tertiary Education: Towards a Comprehensive Vision – is the ...
The best way to have economic security in New Zealand is by investing in wāhine and our rangatahi says Minister for Māori Development. Budget 2022, is allocating $28.5 million over the next two years to strengthen whānau resilience through developing leadership within key cohorts of whānau leaders, wāhine and rangatahi ...
Whānau Ora Commissioning Agencies will receive $166.5 million over four years to help whānau maintain and build their resilience as Aotearoa moves forward from COVID-19, Minister for Whānau Ora Peeni Henare announced today. “Whānau Ora Commissioning Agencies and partners will remain a key feature of the Government’s support for whānau ...
The development of sustainable, plant-based foods and meat alternatives is getting new government backing, with investment from a dedicated regional economic development fund. “The investment in Sustainable Foods Ltd is part of a wider government strategy to develop a low-emissions, highly-skilled economy that responds to global demands,” said Stuart Nash. ...
With New Zealand expecting to see Omicron cases rise during the winter, the Orange setting remains appropriate for managing this stage of the outbreak, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “While daily cases numbers have flattened nationally, they are again beginning to increase in the Northern region and hospitalisation ...
Justice Minister Kris Faafoi today announced appointments to the independent panel that will lead a review of New Zealand’s electoral law. “This panel, appointed by an independent panel of experts, aim to make election rules clearer and fairer, to build more trust in the system and better support people to ...
Honourable Dame Fran Wilde will lead the board overseeing the design and construction of Auckland’s largest, most transformational project of a generation – Auckland Light Rail, which will connect hundreds of thousands of people across the city, Minister of Transport Michael Wood announced today. “Auckland Light Rail is New Zealand’s ...
Boost to Māori Medium property that will improve and redevelop kura, purchase land and build new facilities Scholarships and mentoring to grow and expand the Māori teaching workforce Funding to continue to grow the Māori language The Government’s commitment to the growth and development of te reo Māori has ...
On the eve of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s trade mission to the United States, New Zealand has joined with partner governments from across the Indo-Pacific region to begin the next phase of discussions towards an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). The Framework, initially proposed by US President Biden in ...
As part of New Zealand’s ongoing response to the war in Ukraine, New Zealand is providing further support and personnel to assist Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “We have been clear throughout Russia’s assault on Ukraine, that such a ...
Budget 2022 is providing investment to crackdown on tobacco smuggling into New Zealand. “Customs has seen a significant increase in the smuggling of tobacco products into New Zealand over recent years,” Minister of Customs Meka Whaitiri says. This trend is also showing that tobacco smuggling operations are now often very ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Shutterstock Australians will bear yet another blow to our cost of living in July when electricity prices will surge up to 18.3%, which amounts to over A$250 per year in some cases. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University The long-running case of the “Biloela family” has ended after the new Labor government confirmed they would be allowed to return home to Queensland. Interim home affairs minister Jim Chalmers said on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Hall, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Cybersecurity, RMIT University Shutterstock We use internet-connected devices to access our bank accounts, keep our transport systems moving, communicate with our colleagues, listen to music, undertake commercially sensitive tasks – and order pizza. ...
Analysis - The PM visits the US, Australia's change of government raises questions about its effect on trans-Tasman relations and China moves to extend its influence in the South Pacific. ...
Essay by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. Problems make the world go round. Many of us – maybe the majority of workers, and certainly the majority of well-paid workers – earn our living addressing problems. A problem-free world would represent a major crisis for modern social-capitalism. (Yet standard economic theory continues ...
The Government’s announcement of a $10 million fund to help support economic development for Māori landowners is a paltry and insulting attempt to compensate for a massive confiscation of land value and economic opportunity, according to leading independent ...
Oh, look. More goodies from the government. Today we learn of a $10 million boost for landowners, a $27.6 million investment over the next four years in research and innovation and a $30 million investment for primary and community health care providers. Budget 2020 is the budget that just keeps ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Morgan, Professor of general practice, Bond University Shutterstock The COVID medication Paxlovid has been available in Australia on the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme (PBS) since the start of May, with eligible patients directed to talk to their GP for a ...
Transport Minister Michael Wood has had to contact the Transport Agency a second time over costly road safety props, after a further three were found to have been on back order. ...
Forest & Bird is welcoming recommendations out today on reclassification of stewardship land to create many new conservation parks, reserves, and national park land on the West Coast of the South Island. Nearly one third of conservation ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Emma Larouche, from the University of Canberra’s Media and Communications team, look at the first week of an Albanese government. They discuss Prime Minister Albanese’s trip ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Wright, Associate Professor of Medical Imaging, Monash University Unsplash/Lux Graves, CC BY Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is the most common form of motor neuron disease. People with ALS progressively lose the ability to ...
27 May: The agriculture industry is due to report back to the government on its He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) climate proposal on Monday - but Greenpeace is warning the industry might try to keep ‘cooking the books’ and the Government should hold ...
Today’s ‘secret’ letter release disappointingly confirms what was long suspected - that Ministers meddled with the original Let’s Get Wellington Moving plans, which were recommended by Officials and backed by Wellingtonians. "This letter has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Burrowes, Senior Researcher, University of Auckland Shutterstock Like in many aspects of life, there remains an undercurrent of sex bias against women in the STEM fields. And this bias has a negative impact on not only women, but men ...
Labour MP Jo Luxton – in a Parliamentary speech about academic freedom in this country – referred to the recent shooting in the United States by a young person who had been “radicalised and emboldened” by the mosque attacks in Christchurch a few years ago. These were actions based on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Sydney Supporters of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament have celebrated the commitment of the new Albanese government to put the issue to a referendum. But is government support enough? It’s a start, but ...
RNZ Pacific The President of the Federated States of Micronesia says he has serious concerns about the details of two leaked Chinese government documents to be tabled at a meeting next week. President David Panuelo warns the sovereignty of the Pacific Island countries is at stake, and that the outcome ...
RNZ News New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has delivered the highly regarded Harvard Commencement address, calling out social media as a threat to modern day democracy. She was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the university. The Commencement is steeped in history with Ardern’s predecessors including Winston Churchill, JFK, ...
Surrogacy law is out of date and requires reform, concludes Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission in its report, Te Kōpū Whāngai: He Arotake | Review of Surrogacy , presented to Parliament today. The report acknowledges a pressing need to change ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ann Borda, Associate Professor, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock When a new coronavirus emerged from nature in 2019, it changed the world. But COVID-19 won’t be the last disease to jump across from the shrinking wild. Just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Esterman, Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of South Australia Shutterstock Many of us are considering a long-delayed overseas trip. However, despite what our politicians are telling us, the pandemic is not over yet, and there is always the ...
“Accusations of nepotism being levelled at a cabinet minister must be addressed,” says Rt Hon Winston Peters Leader of New Zealand First. “Questions have been raised about Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta having close family members appointed ...
McCallum Bros Ltd. has lodged an appeal to the Environment Court today following Auckland Council’s decision to decline the company’s resource consent application for offshore sand extraction at Pakiri. Callum McCallum, Managing Director of McCallum ...
Government announces roll-out of fourth Covid-19 vaccine for vulnerable groups who will be eligible from July. It's estimated several hundred thousand people will be eligible including the elderly, aged care ...
By Sue Ahearn of The Pacific Newsroom in Canberra Pacific journalists must be allowed to do their jobs, says the head of journalism at the University of the South Pacific, Dr Shailendra Singh. Pacific journalists have raised concerns about access and secrecy surrounding the tour of the Pacific by China’s ...
Tauranga City Council Commissioners this week reviewed recent updates relating to the Government’s Three Waters Reform proposal and agree that several issues remain unresolved, particularly around the clarity of information. Tauranga City Council ...
Confirmation that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will meet President Joe Biden next week on Tuesday is a big boost for NZ-US relations and Kiwi exporters, says NZUS Council Executive Director Jordan Small. White House visits are rare events. This ...
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Im guessing one could dig up plenty of shit on Willie, he does a lot of talking.
He’s a great choice for Labour.
Actually, he’s not.
He sounds like a “front-bum” timebomb just waiting to explode.
BUT… obviously some strategic whizz thinks it will whip Maoridom back into line and keep them in Camp Labour for a few years. Maybe claw back a few Waitakere men.
Thanks for that highly entertaining Good Morning call back, btw. Whatever happened to ghostrider?
Whatever happened to ghostrider?
Hopefully he’s working on the Great New Zealand Novel. He’s certainly got the stories for it.
I’m guessing this little dig is an anti Willie post. Which is just fantastic in election year. Unity and a solid determination to keep National along with their housing crisis, low income, sleeping in cars social programme precisely on track for three more years as recommended by The Standard.
When was it decided “unity” was just another way of saying “shut up and do what you’re told?” If you want mindless groupthink go join the Nats. Since he hates unions so much that might be good advice for Willy too.
But the Nats are government and Labour opposition …. organised v. dis org.
Obviously the spelling and syntax guide for this week’s talking points hasn’t arrived yet.
Whoever put this up doesn’t give a damm about a Labour- led government. A childish post… we hate Willie Jackson and we’re gonna destroy him cos that’s what matters to us – nothing else.
I have no strong feelings either way about Jackson but this is pathetic. Front up author and don’t hide behind Ns and Fs.
+ 100% Anne
+100 Keith and Anne.
+ 100% Anne
+100 to y’all
I think it’s pathetic (verging on Dirty Politics) to present this hitjob as a “notice and feature” and I agree author should put their name to it.
BUT, I do think Willie Jackson is being treated ridiculously favorably by Labour HQ. Couldn’t they have at least got the other, handsome and articulate misogynist from that dreadful pairing?
What do you think about him swearing, on RadioLive, that he would put a knife through the heart of his “missus” if he ever found out she had cheated on him?
“Destroy him”??
Not being selected won’t destroy him.
Being selected and having to endure (Oh! The humanity!) some valid criticism won’t destroy him either.
If you don’t like selection processes to play out in public it’s probably a bad idea to publicise them in advance.
That’s the point.
They are always in public.
In the end the candidates get selected and their names are required to be published.
Last time I looked Labour had a lot of electorate candidates selected.
Ummm have a look at Patrick Leyland’s list https://theprogressreport.co.nz/2017-nz-candidates/
Not sure if it is up to date. There is no date on the page.
Try wikipedia which seems like it more up to date? 7 days ago for last edit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_in_the_New_Zealand_general_election_2017_by_electorate
Patrick says that there are 3 winnable seats left on https://theprogressreport.co.nz/2017/02/05/labour-mp-calculator/
The attendant publicity is the direct result of Jackson’s pronouncements that he’d be standing and have a high place on the list, and apparently he hasn’t even been approved as a member yet.
The timeline (so far as I can tell):
Little talks to Williams.
Little approaches Jackson.
Jackson goes to the media.
Williams et al react.
Jackson’s announcement could have acknowledged and pre-empted the reaction. It didn’t, and here we are.
Nice try. Labour released a statement in Little’s name. That’s where the reaction could have been pre-empted.
Missed that, and yes, that would’ve been the appropriate time.
+100 Anne
Smacko Jacko has a great opportunity to be an object lesson on actions and consequences.
Saves old whale oil doing the hit a suppose, 2005 was a long time ago , what does he think now one wonders?
Jackson was a union man and unions post Employments Contracts Act more or less made themselves redundant and I can well recall the blind stupidity of some. Modern Unions are tge future and he supported McCartens version.
Mindless groupthink? Yep just have a full on fight in front of the public, fuck the leadership, don’t discuss anything quietly first, just go postal. All that matters is you! Honestly who the hell wants to vote for an organisation that cannot talk, cannot plan. It tells me Labour are a disorganised backstabbing bunch of idiots.
And do you think for a single moment everybody’s personal preference in something as broad as a political party can somehow be accomodated? Not even in ACT i imagine do they think that.
All I know is I dont have to vote National because some idiot who thinks the world revolves around them, on the left, will ensure they get National across the line anyway they can.
So lets just put on hold for 3 more years at least any hope of housing, welfare, health and education reforms to name a few because the left will never get its act together! At least unity won’t be needed then.
It tells me Labour are a disorganised backstabbing bunch of idiots.
The backstabbing bunch of idiots are a small minority Keith. Believe me. I’ve been
around the Labour Party (both close to the inner circle and on the periphery) for so long I’m reluctant to admit how long. 😉
But the time has come for someone to be made an example of… because these are the people who have kept Labour out of office more than in it.
I’ll take your word for it. I too really wonder if a few in Labour never want to make it to government!
“Keith I’ll take your word for it. I too really wonder if a few in Labour never want to make it to government!”
They prefer principles to governing LOL
Whereas the National Party has no principles and is completely shit at governing.
“LOL” 🙄
You’d like it if they were a carbon copy of nuttyanal would you ? They could do a Dutch auction on who can be less Laboury. Jacko can be Labour’s Sobbin’ Mike.
People have legitimate concerns about the process Anne. The leader has pre announced (a) someone’s membership (which has to be approved by the council and (b) acceptance of his waiver because he’s only just joined to stand on the list and (c) his high list place (which is supposed to go through the regional conferences and moderating committee first). None of this debate would be taking place in public if there hadn’t been a media announcement – not made by “backstabbers” by the way. Remember all the fights over the constitution and the right of members to be involved in selections / leaders etc? Was that all for nothing? You sound like Kim Jong Il “someone must be made an example of.”
Darien, I can only assume Labour has thoroughly enjoyed being in Opposition for the last 9 years, so much so that it wants to remain there. If you want to question WJ’s suitability for the role of MP, it’d be useful to talk to him about that.
Well actually ; I know Willie and probably a lot better than you. Its not my job to question him. Or to put out there for all to see my experiences of him. This isn’t about Willie as I’ve said. It’s about the democratic processes of the labour party : hard fought for and won, yet shit upon in a stroke.
It seems most of us agree the Andrew has (as you state) “Shit upon” the Labour Party’s democratic processes so what is going to happen?
Is he going to be held to account by the party or are we looking at New Zealand’s Donald Trump and the process he plans to employ if he becomes Prime Minister?
And if he can’t follow his own Party’s democratic processes how can “mainstream” New Zealanders trust him to follow their country’s democratic processes?
Im desperate on behalf of union workers for a change. But it can’t be at any cost. I well remember the 1980s when the excuses were similar : shut up or put at risk a Labour Government. Some did, some didn’t. I know who paid the price. I’m keen to support a Labour led government and will do everything I can, but don’t expect everyone to shut up when our values cross the line.
So it is Andrew little that has dropped the ball? What did he say when you told him that?
Oh sorry – andrew little has shat upon the democratic processes of the labour party? Jeepers another SHIT year coming up for lefties i sense.
Hey guys, Little hasn’t pre-announced a high list ranking; he’s made it clear he’d like one. There’s a difference.
I’m not Jackson’s greatest fan – he’s said some stupid things in his time. Having said that, talkback radio depends on the hosts being a bit extreme and provoking a reaction. I think perhaps we all need to calm down a bit and those of us who are members can participate in the party’s process. Fighting in public doesn’t help anyone (or not anyone we want to help, anyway).
Good points there Red-blooded.
I think you have mistaken who I am calling the “backstabbers” Darien. I was not referring to a single group of identifiable Labour people, but rather a succession of individuals over many years who have seen fit to go hiving off to journos or whoever (often incognito) with the sole purpose of publicly criticising/ demeaning some other person because of an obscure personal grudge.
If the complaint is a worthy one – and sometimes they are – then there are avenues within the system that should be extensively used instead of going down the public road.
I’ve seen a few go “hiving off to journos” in my time as an MP. You’d be surprised who they were. Or maybe not.
Look – All our own work- Labour lemmings.
Is the Standard trying to ensure Labour loses the next election?
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/identity-politics-social-justice
What does that have to do with the post? I’m genuinely curious.
I think you can work that out. Stop being disingenuous.
From your link,
The second challenge is to realize that in the current moment, the attack on what is termed identity politics arises precisely from those who wish to diminish the centrality of struggles for social justice It is those who believe that there is some sort of race-neutral progressive populism that can unite us all who fail to understand the profound lessons of U.S. history. The struggle is not linear; it never has been The struggles against economic injustice frequently overlap with various struggles for social justice. If we want to win, a strategy must be constructed that recognizes that the system is multidimensional and cannot be challenged on one front alone.
Good to know you are on board Paul. Still not clear how that relates to The Standard machine ensuring that Labour loses the election though. Maybe you should take it up with Lynn, he does the programming. Nor how it relates to the post.
I’d don’t know. I suspect that Paul is just being a bit of a Trump. Mindless activity flailing around and hoping to connect with reality.
Ah. Interesting. That’s the second time I’ve seen on TS, when an anti-“identity politics” commenter posted a link that supposedly supported their views. In fact, the link explains the complex intersection of and interaction between economic and social justice; between the class struggle, and struggles again other oppression (often focused on race and gender, but also sexuality and disability).
The people posting each ink don’t seem to have read much more than the headline. If they had read the full content of each article, they don’t show they have understood it.
Thanks for the, Paul. It provides a very good explanation of the interweaving of structural racism, patriarchy and capitalism, tracing the historical roots and the shifts to the present day.
Too many quotable sections in the article to chose one. However, the article raises the issue for me about how much terms (such as “identity politics and attacks on it) and issues are lifted from US sources, without reading them critically, or thinking about their relevance to NZ.
[Weka on Paul] It strikes me as being a natural inference from comments here by Standardistas … not assigning the thread to Weka though.
Paul said “Is the Standard trying to ensure Labour loses the next election?”
The Standard is a machine. How is it losing the election exactly? Do you hold Lynn responsible seeing as how he does the programming?
If instead you (or Paul) mean the authors, then be specific about how that might be happening. Say which authors and how they are working to lose the election. (yes, you can do this without attacking authors). I’d love to hear how you perceive this.
But perhaps Paul (and you) meant that the commentariat are trying to lose the election. Because they are as much a part of this place as the authors.
Myself, I see in Paul’s comments (here and elsewhere) that women, gay people, Māori (unless sanctioned by the establishment), disabled people, etc should stfu for the good of the cause. Is that what you think should be the kaupapa of TS?
Exactly. My instinct (which I am fighting off at present in the interests of debate) is to simply start banning anyone who wants to shut any one else up.
The Standard platform is a place for robust DEBATE.
We moderate on behaviour.
Now I can understand this kind of foolishness from shouting authoritarian idiots like Bomber. But I thought that by now most people reading this site would have caught on to the fact that we don’t censor opinion except where it causes issues for the site.
Moderators constrain behaviour..
I would point out that I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that I do need to start dealing with the behaviour of ignorant dickheads attacking weka.
Have at it Lynn.
The irony here is that despite what some think about my moderation I spend quite a bit of time explaining not just why I am moderating but how moderation works in general. Not to mention that some moderators here, myself included, give the people they disagree with politically more leeway so as to not appear to be being partisan.
So seeing long time regulars here choosing to attack not just me but all the authors is an eye opener. My conclusion thus far is that some here have no interest in the wellbeing of the site, don’t take any notice of how it is being run or the work involved in that or how moderation is done, and generally treat the place as a personal portal for pushing their own politics without regard for the collective good. And then think they can blame other people for the failure of the left. Either they still don’t get the difference between moderating for behaviour and political censoring, or they don’t care. And they still won’t make the effort to criticise a post but instead choose to attack the people who provide them with this space.
Fuck ’em, I’ve had enough.
I’ve got things I want to do in the back end, and then I’d like to be writing posts. I think it’s sad that the author who spends the most time in the community would be pushed to this, and I’m sorry for the people that will inadvertently get caught up in harsher moderation, but I think the worst thing that can happen here now is for authors to be put off at the expense of individual commenters (and for the people who haven’t been paying attention, authors being way more important than commenters is a long term, stated core principle of the site).
And because I apparently can’t get rid of my namby-pamby liberal ethics, I would encourage the people who are paying attention and who do care about the site to keep building bridges and as Anne says keep communication open with people you disagree with. It’s possible to criticise a post without attacking authors (and to criticise a comment without attacking the commenter). And please start supporting the people who make this place possible, authors and regular commenters. Talk about what you like and what works as much as what doesn’t.
Nope weka I’d say about time. lprent hands out the harsh at times, and people pull their head in (me included). I don’t think you should feel bad at all.
I almost swore at the computer reading swordfishes comment and now Paul’s. I have not commented, becasue both made me feel really sad we have to watch this medieval like macho posturing. I hope they will take some time to look at their comments, and reflect on what they said.
hi weka,
fwiw, i applaud your efforts in respect to authoring,commenting and playing your part in this community.
i find your moderation to be even handed and fair.
i also get if you’ve had enough, you’ve had enough.
in respect to wider moderation i would rather see folk who are here to merely agitate or overly pedantic in their debate style given the long walk off a short pier.
I know the feeling. I got there nearly a decade ago.
Fortunately I just have a wide angle of outright anger aggression that I feel obliged to share on the odd occasion. Being a responsible adult I like to share it with anyone who I consider is a troll and idiotic misogynist political imbeciles like Bradbury.
So be warned that :-
1. This is election year, and I always allocate more time for this site in election year.
2. I only have one trip this year offshore for work thus far and it is only two weeks.
3. I consider September 24th to be a good end date for moderation.
4. You appear to have removed my only current constraint.
I must say I do like the times when I have no other mods around. I get to pick and choose which pompous arseholes I persecute.
Since there have been 800 comments published since I announced out 1.2 millionth published comment, I have a selection of
idiotsupstanding citizens to select from.Let the good times whine.
Writing posts
The piece of that article, most relevant to the post, is to do with unions. The article explains how racism (especially chattel slavery) was built into US capitalism with colonisation, occupation and settlement from Europe.
For NZ, the development of a capitalist system was an integral part of colonisation and patriarchy. I understand that women and Māori were present in late 19th and early 20th century union activity. However, there was an on-going struggle for equal treatment, and against discrimination within unions.
A relevant section of the linked article deals with this in the US context:
Now, while I’m no fan of the Tamihere-Jackson support of rape culture on radio and in other areas of the media, there could well be significant reasons why Jackson has developed some dissatisfaction with unions. So, I would like to read more about his views on unions.
Does Jackson for instance, feel that unions have been contexts where Pākehā workers have actively been encouraged to attack, or discriminate against Māori and/or other ethnic groups? What is Jackson’s view on unions today?
I can’t really form a view on this til I know more.
It appears you’ve changed your name to Notices and Features, Weka.
While I’m not an enormous fan of Jacksons, this is starting to look uncomfortably like the beginning of a fully-fledged character assassination campaign. Supreme sectarian self-indulgence in Election Year (and after 3 successive election defeats for fucksake)
[this post has absolutely nothing to do with me. I didn’t put it up. I’ve only just seen it and like others I’m still trying to figure out what the point of it is.
As a moderator note, I’m going to ask people to reread the Policy, especially the bit about what The Standard is and who writes here and why. Also note that there is a general rule on not attacking authors.
Assuming this post was put up by me or that I knew anything about it says something about the people making that assumption. Please stop and think about what you are doing here. I’d suggest critiquing the post for what it is, not what you are projecting on to it.
Swordfish, the only reason you are not getting a substantial ban is because I have a lot of respect for what you bring to TS. But this was completely and utterly unwarranted.
I’m also going to suggest that the commentariat takes a good hard look at itself and thinks about why there are no feminist authors on TS. This shit points to precisely why. Any discussion of this needs to go to Open Mike as it will be off topic here – weka]
“this is starting to look uncomfortably like the beginning of a fully-fledged character assassination campaign. Supreme sectarian self-indulgence in Election Year (and after 3 successive election defeats for fucksake)”
+100 Swordfish.
+100 Swordfish
+100 Swordfish
Would it hurt you and the other +100’s to acknowledge Swordfish’s apology too?
OAB. Please take note of the quoted part of Swordfish’s post that I agreed with. Swordfish apologized for mistaking Weka as the author of this thread.
Yep, that: accusations of character assassination.
OAB. You forgot to include the word “campaign” and that part that I quoted wasn’t about Weka, it was in reference to Willie Jackson.
I which case, I take it back and genuinely apologise for my mistaken assumption, Weka.
More of a concern for me is why you would make that assumption about me in particular, and then even if you did wonder if it was me why you would think it’s ok to attack me as an author rather than asking if it was me and what was I doing. Seriously, wtf is going on? Not just you btw.
One thing I am noticing is that some people are choosing sides and then attacking other people who haven’t picked a side but are perceived to have. The first set of people are then blaming the second set of people for costing the left the election by being disloyal or disunited. That’s right, some lefties are attacking other lefties and blaming them for not being united. It’s daft.
If people don’t like what is going on, start talking about it. Stop attacking people and build bridges and alliances across disagreement. If you don’t want to do that, then write a guest post or do something else that is constructive. If you think that people’s behaviour is a problem, then name it and address it, but be kind if that person is your ally. Talk strategy and if you don’t like what is going on, offer a different strategy and make your case. There is no such thing as left wing unity, we’re all mad as fucking hatters for the disagreement and dissent, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work together.
The really sad thing for me about this weekend is that so few people bothered to comment on the Waitangi Day post. I think that says a lot about the current state of the commentariat on TS.
As for this post, it’s a post, not a declaration of anything. Is the person who put up the post trying to make a point about something? I have no fucking idea. What does the actual post say?
In the past Willie Jackson supported the kinds of unions that Matt McCarten does, and opposed the older style ones. That seems a relevant topic to discuss on a left wing blog that is broadly organised around the labour movement.
Does Jackson still feel that way? I would have thought that was relevant also.
Are there all sorts of politics going on around and within Labour that are obscure. I have no doubt. How are we going to respond to that?
Yeah I am getting fucked off with those kinds of idiotic presumptions as well.
I figure some educational bans until September 24th are in order.
swordfish
You are usually very reliable especially on analysing the political scene but also in other subjects. I think that 2017 is going to be very difficult and like you I support the site, that it is here at all is a little wonder of the world, and I think those of us who appreciate it will do well to withhold negative opinions about it and authors unless critically provoked.
The left being fearless about offering criticisms that diminish the left is like young troubled people ‘cutting themselves’ in a sort of modern flagellation. I think, we should make 2017 the year of living closely even when some in the group are a bit fragrant. We mustn’t get fractious and fracture ourselves, it’s the left’s weakness that must be avoided. Anyone else agree with me on this?
I agree with the last two statements, and appreciate the framing, it’s a good analogy. Thanks.
So if you agree with the last two points, you presumably agree that this dirty little political hitjob was a very reckless deployment of the N&F author name?
It really is just grist for the righty “TS is a left wing hivemind” mill.
Comment to weka:
I did not believe it was you who put up this post. In fact I made a comment to the effect people shouldn’t speculate but inadvertently deleted it. 🙁
Having said that not all the negative commentary here and on the other post are anti -feminist. There are others whose views are similar to mine and they also are not aimed at feminists as such. We come from a different view point which is largely to do with our concern at the over-all impact these ructions have on the Labour Party’s fortunes and indeed the Greens.
For example, there is no reason why groups of Labour members – be they an electoral committee or a special interest group – can’t write to the leader and the president of the Labour Party expressing their concerns. All such letters are read and discussed with their respective colleagues (in particular the governing body, the Labour Council) and are responded to in writing at the earliest opportunity. There was absolutely no need to go public either on facebook or online somewhere else and give our political foes yet another stick to beat us with. That is what has made me so angry because it happens time and again and these matters have a far better chance of being sorted satisfactorily if they remain in-house.
No problem with that at all Anne 🙂 and one of the things I appreciate about TS is that LP members talk here from their perspectives (you and Jenny amongst others).
I agree with your points about not all negative commentary around the Jackson issue being anti-feminist and I definitely saw that yesterday too.
There is unfortunately an anti-feminist vein in the left and here on TS. People who oppose intersectional politics risk aligning themselves with it. Attacking the only regular woman author on TS, who can’t write posts as a feminist because it’s not safe to, is a political act IMO whether intentional or not (swordfish and I have crossed swords in the past over identity politics). I saw this stuff play out long before I became an author, so it’s not about me. I think commenters need to think about what they want from TS. Lines are being drawn and it’s not looking pretty. You and I disagree on feminist issues sometimes but that doesn’t mean we can’t work to the same goals. I saw some of your comments yesterday that I disagreed with, but I don’t have a problem with that because you know how to express your opinions as your opinions and you make efforts to build bridges.
Thanks for the first sentence too, I appreciate that.
“can’t write posts as a feminist because it’s not safe to”.
Define “safe” – do you mean “without criticism or disagreement”?
No, I don’t. Don’t be fucking thick and don’t start this here. I’ll define safe when enough of the men here start taking a genuine interest in creating a safer space for all people instead of running snowflake memes or thinking that safety = no disagreement (or worse, running that line when they know it’s not what is meant). Online safety is an actual thing, I suggest you do some research.
Yep. Agree with weka. As a participant in online discussions since about 1995/6, I have had numerous experiences of, or been witness to, some very nasty online abuse of women, and even nastier ones of lesbians.
The emotional toll can be enormous. I know of one instance where a woman with an online presence, was stalked, first online, then offline. And that was a pretty scary experience for her.
I completely support you here weka. I am very disappointed in many of the comments here, and elsewhere, by some people who obviously have leftist tendencies, but who completely fail to understand the culture that is very dominant in NZ (and elsewhere) of denigrating women and feminists in particular. One of the fundamental platforms of the left, is the promotion of social justice for all; and that includes all women.
Weka
I liked this that you said particularly, as how to show a good attitude to the matter of women’s concerns, not only that of feminists, whichever perspective taken.
Yes weka, I accept there is an anti-feminist vein that rears its ugly head here. Its hard work trying to walk the narrow line between… wanting the best chance for a Labour/Green government come the end of September… and having to face yet another mess because someone in Labour has apparently seen fit to go public about what is essentially an in-house matter.
So long as we all don’t start talking past one another… 🙂
Anne – as someone who has been observing this issue from afar – may I say just how disappointed I was to hear of the proposed parachuting of Willie Jackson into the top Labour line-up. I, as much as anyone from the left here, want to change the government, and to that end I am working hard within our electorate to that end, as are my whole family.
But my family are also working full time on programmes that are aimed at helping our young people to change from the rape and sexual abuse culture that is so prevalent in NZ society. Many here may not understand or appreciate just how prevalent it is, but I can assure them that if they were to take the time to look closely at it they would be astonished and dismayed to find just how widespread and sick it is. Whilst Willie Jackson may have “apologized” for his outburst on Radio wrt the stupid and insensitive remarks he made; essentially he disqualified himself there and then, from ever holding political office again in my humble opinion. Remember that all the women MPs on the left, and some of the men walked out of the Chamber after Key began using NZ’s rape culture to denigrate them. How can any Labour or Green or NZF woman MP work with someone who has obviously held similar views?
If there is to be any progress on improving this festering boil on our society (and believe me, it is a running sore and getting worse) then the treatment not only needs to be to relieve the symptoms, but also to treat the source. MPs must be exemplars in this regard.
BTW I am not a Labour voter and have not been for over a decade. I am a Green Party member. However I am as anxious as you are to see Labour prosper, and I look forward to our victory in September.
No matter what the strategic advantage of parachuting Jackson into a safe list position might be, I do not think that that should override principle.
Sorry weka – I realise that this is off-topic wrt to his position on the unions – a matter with which I also hold similar reservations wrt to this “anointment” – I shall not comment further.
“Remember that all the women MPs on the left, and some of the men walked out of the Chamber after Key began using NZ’s rape culture to denigrate them. How can any Labour or Green or NZF woman MP work with someone who has obviously held similar views?”
This.
(I wouldn’t worry about being offtopic, I think the thread has become so generalised now and the person who put it up can moderate if they think it’s a problem. I will still moderate here if I see people posting against the rules or in ways that are exclusionary of others.)
Macro – thank you for articulating these points. Whether TS commentators like it or not these are valid arguments that need to be aired by healthy democratic parties of the left. Since Jackson has been announced as a possible candidate, I have spoken to three women who are questioning Little’s overriding agreed upon processes of selection as well as Jackson’s suitability as a candidate. Plus, Jackson has a well established reputation as a loose cannon.
Andrew little must be pulling his hair out, sholdertapped by the leader – come on labour ffs
I’m trying to work out what is wrong with Willies comment, and quite frankly I can’t find one. The NZ trade union movement is a weak and pathetic excuse for worker representation. It has only produced one exceptional person in the last 35 years, and sadly she is no longer with us.
So discuss that.
OK let’s start with weak. Two fold argument here, because it was supported by the state, it’s foundations were weak. So by the time of the neo-con revolution it was on very shaky ground. Secondly, the trade union movement in NZ has had a defensive mind set since the introduction of the Employment contracts Act. Or another way to look at it, it has become reactionary (in that it react to events rather than pushes forward an agenda), plus it has had to fight to hold onto what it has got. While some just folded. It also has not been able to support some of it’s members.
I’d argue it is the model of trade unionism itself which is at fault, not the people involved. Hence my comment of producing people of note, it’s just not capable of doing that. I really think Helen Kelly would have been exceptional, no matter what structures were in place.
As for pathetic, again it is a issue of mind set and the very limits of structure I have a issue with in the trade union movement in NZ. Very much like the craft guilds of old, they have fallen into many of the same traps. And can have the same criticisms thrown at them – the ‘closed shop’ mentality, a hierarchy that does not listen, a old boys club. To name a few. Do I need to point out the lack of Maori and Pacific in leadership rolls, when they dominate membership?
The older I get the less I want to struggle against structures and system which won’t change. The union movement in this country had to change, and radically change 30 years ago, it has not and probably will not, it is in perpetual decline. Hence why I agree with Willies statement.
Nice one adam. Having come from a pro-union (mainly because the PSA) but inactive family I’ve not had a good understanding of union politics. Comments like that are bloody useful.
“Do I need to point out the lack of Maori and Pacific in leadership rolls, when they dominate membership?”
So you’re saying there is institutionalised racism at the heart of the NZ trade union movement?
Nope I’m saying racism is alive and well all across NZ, including the libertarian movement.
hi adam, i have been wondering what a future (5-15 yrs) union looks like.
i figure helen kelly’s observation of ‘be kind to each other’ would be a cornerstone.
a collabaritive, inclusive approach to negotiations,
perhaps providing other strengths/resources eg food/gardens, childcare, aged care education..
the unions, from my sketchy recall, grew from adversity.
the employer, having such atrocious conditions, created the environment for unions flourish.
my bones tell me the way we are headed as a society, an organisation may be needed as a source of strength and resilience, like church or unions used to be.
I agree gsays, we are in a time when many structures are in decline. And I think it is wise to look back at what worked for people. So yes, a restructured union movement with more control by members and a church who is responsive to it’s flock seem to me to be the way of the future.
The unions have re-structured, but I don’t suppose that makes good news these days, and as far as I can tell they’re being led by younger, intelligent, articulate people who care about the conditions under which their workers are employed.
Come on Jenny, they have restructured within a very specific set of ideas. None of which have done much to radically change them. When, as time is my friend on this, has shown trade unions are now virtually useless at representing workers interest. Who are the unions doing anything?
If you say Etu I’m going to laugh my head off, as they seem to be doing the governments job for them, and are helping killing off the n.g.o sector with their policies.
I don’t care how much people care, it’s about working people protecting themselves, and feeling like they are doing that – that is not happening. As declining trade union numbers show, year after year.
What unions are doing things? First and Unite sure are. Willie was right at the time, and Unite’s influence in the trade union movement has been important in shaking up old bureaucracies and showing a different way things can be done. But I think it’s unproductive to shit on unions in general, when First and Unite (at least) are growing in members and running strong, successful, community based campaigns.
So where are these great number improvements? Any facts to back it up? Plus in the context of Willie comment, I would have thought unite would have been excluded, as that was the shake up that Willie was talking about.
But, it’s not enough, unite has done well, but not been able to generate great reversal in the fortune of trade unions. Which in my opinion is never going to happen. The model needs to change.
If you can’t see that I’m advocating a different approach to unionism, then sorry for you.
It is mildly interesting how the march of time makes strange bedfellows.
But I suppose that the other thing it illustrates is that smart people know when to be on the outside pissing in and on the inside pissing out – sometimes when you’ve achieved as much as you can doing one, you can achieve more switching to the other.
Why Jackson is a problematic choice for Labour is discussed in other threads. To me, this comment doesn’t strike me as being much of an issue: both sides seem to have gotten over it, otherwise he wouldn’t be joining Labour.
+1.
Does this go here or on the other thread?
In defence of Willie Jackson
By Martyn Bradbury / February 6, 2017
“The last 24 hours has seen an explosion of Professional Twitter Liberals making all types of vile character assassinations against Willie Jackson, hell I even had my own Facebook page invaded by Wellington Stormtroopers trashing TDB and attacking Jackson last night.
Some of the things being said about Willie Jackson are simply purposeful manipulations by people who want to be offended and outraged.
It’s embarrassing watching your own side be so alienating.
Here are the facts:…”
<a href="http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/02/06/in-defence-of-willie-jackson/
Bradbury is basically now firmly in the camp against intersectional politics and solidarity. He’s saying that women, Māori, gays etc should stfu for the good of the cause (which happens to be the cause as defined by white men). Is that what you are supporting?
IMHO Bradbury has about as much political nous as a can of fish. I used to read his blog – now I seldom go there – the comments by many are even more loonie than some of the posts! – poor Frank Mac has his work cut out.
That’s one good thing, that the commentary here in TS is still relatively good even with the problems it has.
There is a shit fight going on between Bradbury and some lefties commentators, often on twitter. It’s not pretty and looking at Bradbury’s posts and tweets in recent months I think it’s clear where he’s aligning himself in a post-Tr*mp world (anti-IP and pro-himself). I think this is going to be a bigger and bigger issue in NZ until we sort it out. And likely to get nasty and cause harm.
Don’t shoot the messenger. I didn’t post any opinion on it, and given the range in discussion, thought others may want to have a look at it.
Yes, you didn’t post an opinion, which is why I asked you for one. I notice you still haven’t given it..
You asked me for my opinion based on how you framed it. I don’t have one. Given the discussion I just posted the article. People can make up their own minds.
Ok, fair enough you don’t want to respond to my framing. However posting links to Bradbury’s various attacks on people is not really a neutral thing to do.
Oh I see, given that the discussion is wide ranging and he has been brought up in it, and posting links to his opinions is not being neutral? So no more links then?
No, don’t be daft.
Lol 🙂
This bit is appalling :
“At some stage the Union bosses who employ many of these Professional Twitter Liberals are going to have to be sat down and asked how effective they think they’re being right now.”
So this blog is now promoting the idea that union staffers should be sacked.
Meanwhile, one Maori union tweeter claims to have had 3 twitter accounts trolling him yesterday, while a number of anonymous accounts on twitter were attacking anyone tweeting pro-maori stuff.
And that union tweeter is one who has no truck with rape culture, who ever promotes or re-inforces it. And i don’t think he’s on Bradbury’s Xmas card list.
NB: Not mentioning names cause I don’t want to encourage more trolling of that twitter account.
Darien, at unions more than anywhere else people shouldn’t have a lifetime guarantee of a job. Unionists aren’t paid out of the bosses pocket, they’re paid by the hard earned dollars of their members. It’s a privilege to work as a representative of the workers’ movement, so if organisers, comms people or even admin staff at unions aren’t doing a good job at representing the interests of their members they should be let go. I don’t have an opinion about the people Bomber is talking about, but it shouldn’t be sacrilege to speak about underperforming union officials losing their job.
There’s something odd about bomber being a chicken little yelling that the Labour sky is falling apart, when by doing so he exagerrates the supposed divisions within Labour and tries to turn a disagreement into a crisis
It is what he does. The guy is pretty useless and largely irrelevant for a reason.
McFlock, for the most part he is very anti Labour anyway. Even the Greens are getting it now, and he was scathing of the Lab/Green MoU.
He has been anti Green since forever!
Funny how these so called left commentators hate the left, isn’t it?
This is a disgraceful saga being played out, I’ve had a spring in my step thinking Labour is positioned nicely to end this terrible regime in power. And we get this carry on being aired in public. Wise up people and keep to the big picture stuff.
Noam Chomsky said:
“If you believe in freedom of speech, you believe in freedom of speech for views you don’t like. Goebbels was in favor of freedom of speech for views he liked. So was Stalin. If you’re in favor of freedom of speech, that means you’re in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise….With regard to freedom of speech there are basically two positions: you defend it vigorously for views you hate, or you reject it and prefer Stalinist/fascist standards. It is unfortunate that it remains necessary to stress these simple truths.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Noam_Chomsky
I think it’s great that WJ has freedom of speech. May he continue to speak.
🙄
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Doesn’t look to me like anyone is arguing against Willie’s freedom of speech.
Looks to me like the disputes are about whether it’s a good idea for Labour to welcome Willie back and give him a high profile and high list placing. And whether other senior people in Labour have handled the question well.
I note protesting Ross doesn’t seem to care for Poto Williams’ freedom of speech.
Possibly it’s a case of not understanding that free speech has consequences. One of which is that other people will exercise their equal right to free speech.
That’s it, in a nutshell, Andre.
And instead of going to privately to the leadership and NZ Council about their concerns, some Labour people are expressing their dislike in public. Like Anne, and Skinny, this sort of behaviour makes me feel extremely angry – and frustrated.
Labour is on the cusp of pushing this nasty government out, and our own people are destroying that possibility. Its time for them to pull their heads in and have a good internal think to themselves about what it is, they are actually doing.
If Labour doesn’t want public selection processes it makes sense not to announce them.
Maybe they didn’t like the prospect of a fait accompli being presented to the public.
As you well know Jenny : this was a public announcement from the leader. Perhaps a bit of foresight about consulting members, including council members and even members might have been wise.
Well, we know he discussed the matter with Poto Williams in advance. I can’t imagine Andrew Little making such an announcement without fairly extensive consultation beforehand.
In that case, it’s difficult to imagine why they didn’t anticipate and pre-empt the reaction.
Maybe they were given the impression that there wasn’t going to be any reaction.
Maybe they were given that impression, but didn’t credit any reaction as worthy of being taken seriously.
Maybes are wonderful things.
There’s a hell of a lot of “ifs” and “maybes” going on. We are all assuming things, and “maybe” that’s part of the problem.
And maybe they did think there would be a reaction, but that it would remain in-house.
By the way, Two brief video media interviews with Andrew Little today 7 Feb 2017, at approximately 1.45pm before Parliament resumed.
One is about medicinal and recreational use of cannabis, the other is the Willie Jackson saga
If you cannot listen to these videos, the basis of the chats were as follows :
On medicinal cannabis, Labour would enable its use as soon as it had the privilege of becoming govt. On recreational cannabis, Andrew Little and other MPs have concerns about the use of cannabis by young people – whose brains are not fully developed until they reach their mid-20s, and whose brains could be damaged by the use of cannabis. Much more information and research is needed before such a decision could be made.
On Willie Jackson – yes, Andrew Little was aware there would be concerns, but Willie Jackson would bring into the Party the facility to help Labour connect with urban Maori and disadvantaged Maori – which has not been easily achieved before. He also said Labour is a Party of values and those values include redemption for someone who has done wrong (those were not his exact words, but he talked about Jackson “redeeming himself” and he thought the Party should give him the chance to do so).
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/national/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503075&gal_cid=1503075&gallery_id=171135
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/national/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503075&gal_cid=1503075&gallery_id=171132
and apologies for going off-topic with the cannabis one, but I cannot remember now which video is which – and I copied them both onto the same bit of paper. I think the WJ one might be the second one.
Thanks for that Jenny. And btw, good point.
Thanks for the links Jenny.
The point about redemption is reasonable in general. In this case there will be many people for whom the original remarks were so hurtful and destructive as to require an extraordinary level of forgiveness.
I don’t think that’s been adequately acknowledged by Little or Jackson. As for whether Jackson’s subsequent actions meet the standard generally, I’d like to hear Louise Nicholas’ and other women’s opinion of that.
“And maybe they did think there would be a reaction, but that it would remain in-house.”
In which case they misjudged. The public were already reacting days before Williams’ statement.
I think to Williams’ credit she explicitly left the way open for redemption not just for Jackson but for Labour too.
+100 Anne.
Agree with you Jenny, Skinny, Andre, Anne, Keith et al that have voiced the same.
plus another one
Made headline news tonight I see and some wayward souls were reportedly told to pull their heads in by Little. Righly so, thought he looked convincing.
People make mistakes, Jackson is prone to stupid utterances, hes sure not the only one, no doubt he will get the pull your head in speech at some stage himself . Roast busters doesnt make him a rapist as a radio shock jock he was surely encouraged to create drama, hes smart enough to have the ability to get over himself -lets hope he does.
The Standard machine still must have been short circuiting to post the above inflammatory quote. Not smart.
Final thought, can you imagine what Helen Clark would have done to those speaking out publically on this?
+100 Keepcalmcarryon.
Then tell Andrew Little not to pre-empt private conversations in public…
My god you are back. Just in time for election year. I trust you remember the lessons from last time.
Unlikely.
I work for the L.P. on a voluntary basis to get labour elected at the next election.
I don’t think we need to be airing our dirty laundry in public. By doing this we are doing nationals job for them.
I think it is very poor judgement by Poto Williams to put this issue in the public arena.
Cant you hear the voters saying Labour are a shambles cant even get their house in order.
Williams has every right to air her views but for christ sake do it in house. I don’t want my voluntary work to be in vain once again.
As for Poto Williams saying she wants an apology for something Willie Jackson has apologised for already on several occasions makes you wonder who Williams thinks she is
He didn’t apologise. Like if I said “I’m sorry for your failure to grasp that”, that would be insulting and insincere, eh.
Hear, hear Kiwikeith. Commonsense comments. Why is Poto Williams wanting a personal apology to herself. I have never seen or heard of her speaking out on women’s issues before.
For about the first time ever I agree with the Daily Blog on this issue and feel very disappointed at the lack of unity and support for Labour here.
“Why is Poto Williams wanting a personal apology to herself.”
She isn’t. You just made that up.
I did not “make that up”. That is a mischief-making response Weka. I was following on from Kiwi Keith’s post which mentioned an apology being asked for by Poto Williams.
Would you like to respond to my comment about Poto Williams’ very low profile supporting women’s issues previously. We have all heard of Louise Nicholas’ work on behalf of women but not Poto Williams.
[you have until the end of the day to exact quote and link to where Williams has said she is wanting “a personal apology to herself” (your words not Keith’s), or to withdraw your comment and acknowledge you made it up. Otherwise expect a ban – weka]
You can look up Williams’ work yourself.
Reality… Poto Williams has continually spoken out on Women’s issues and is the LP spokesperson on Family and sexual Violence. That’s her brief.
+100 KiwiKeith
I completely disagree, if Labour doesn’t want it’s ‘dirty laundry’ aired in public, then it should stop making dirty right wing skid marks everywhere.
Also, I am not sure if you have noticed, but the western centre left neo liberal project is pretty much done and dusted, and these ideologically driven free market parties still blindly chasing the centre and centre right votes instead of the left and centre Left are destroying or are about to destroy them selves one at a time.
Katie Bradford Verified account
@katieabradford
Andrew Little says caucus will this morning discuss the Willie Jackson issue & Poto Williams decision to speak out publicly against him
Monday morning political commentary on RNZ just now didn’t discuss either Williams’ statement or the internal Labour issues. They did talk about the Māori politics involved in Jackson joining Labour and the Mp/Mana agreement over the Māori seats.
Google news search suggests that other MSM aren’t that interested in the Williams issue or the internal issues. I’m putting this down to Little’s evenhanded approach over the weekend, and that it was Waitangi Day. I guess that might change depending on what Little does next.
Am hoping Tiso is wrong, but I suspect not,
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 1h
Giovanni Tiso Retweeted Katie Bradford
Uh-oh.
Giovanni Tiso added,
Katie Bradford @katieabradford
Andrew Little says caucus will this morning discuss the Willie Jackson issue & Poto Williams decision to speak out publicly against him
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 59m
I can tell you the outcome already. A couple of highly placed MPs will speak highly of Jackson after the meeting. 1/2
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 58m
Williams will be quietly reminded of the need for party discipline in an election year. No-one will speak of Young Labour’s letter.
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 54m
It’s classic authoritarian leadership: Little announced candidacy and list placing before the council had an opportunity to debate issue…
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 53m
…leaving them with no option but to fast-track Jackson as the loss of face for the leader so close to the election would be catastrophic.
Giovanni Tiso @gtiso 41m
And while Little makes reassuring noises about “reasonable concerns”, the conservative left gets to have a go at Wellington liberals…
That framing does sound like one way of stomping on the embers. Guarantees a flare-up later on, though.
Especially problematic is that Williams was fulfilling the brief she was given – if the issue hadn’t been satisfactorily resolved internally, publicly was the way to go. And, all things considered, her comments were moderate and reasonable. They should be met with a moderate and reasonable response.
In that case, Little should clarify that any announcement he or Labour has made was of course subject to approval of the democratic processes within the Labour party and sorry that wasn’t made explicit, and Jackson should show a little bit of humility to people’s valid concerns about his statements.
At least mel gibson was drunk.
Yep, and Williams’ statement left an opening for both Little and Jackson to do the right thing and Jackson to join Labour. The thing I’m with is how much I still think that Labour might do something good here 🙄
“But Labour Party president Nigel Haworth said Willie Jackson’s candidacy wasn’t a done deal.
Mr Haworth said he would have to go through the same selection process as any other potential candidate.
Mr Jackson will need to join the party and then get a waiver because he hasn’t been a member for the required period.
He will also have to go through the party’s moderation process, where his application will be considered by 22 people made up of the council and three caucus members.
That process takes place in April.”
<a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/323829/willie-jackson-to-stand-for-labour
Sounds like Little may in fact actually have some real political nous.
Part of political leadership is actually the ability to ram things through without getting bogged down in endless debate – it’s been that way forever.
“Part of political leadership is actually the ability to ram things through without getting bogged down in endless debate”
oh my GAWD, rodger douglas is back in the house … We are setting ourselves up for another rogue Labour Govt… looks like another three years of Nats would be better option now .. eeeeeeeccckk
Drama queening much Xanthe?
Andrew Little is nothing like Roger Douglas. There is no similarity there whatsoever.
David lange was nothing like rodger douglas either. My point is , winning is actually not the first priority, and there are much worse outcomes than loseing
And Andrew Little is not like David Lange either. Kicking National out is a priority imo. Can’t think of anything worse than this current National government remaining in power, can you?
Hey Leftie, you’ve been on fire lately. Keep it up.
Lol 🙂 was thinking the same of you and some others as well!!
“Can’t think of anything worse than this current National government remaining in power, can you?”
yes I can !
For instance a labour government a la 1984 roger douglas that “ram things through without getting bogged down in endless debate” and impose ultra right agenda without any mandate to do so!
the most important thing is to be able to govern!
thats actually more important than getting hands on levers!
Sorry but the aquisition of willie and greg makes me think these thoughts and i am sure i am not the only one.
No, you would not be the only one, but others may see “the acquisition of Willie and Greg” as a tactical move that is part of the strategy to oust out National.
Andrew Little and the current Labour party are not the “Labour government a la 1984 Roger Douglas” though.
But in order to govern, don’t you need to get your hands on the levers first?
“But in order to govern, don’t you need to get your hands on the levers first?”
Well that is arse aboot in my book.
If not able to govern then please step away from the levers would be my advice.
the evedince (willie and greg) is that they havent a clue. I do not trust them with any levers thanks
But if you are not able to govern, you wouldnt be near the levers in the first place. In regards to Willie and Greg, others may or may not hold your view.
Xanthe – I agree 100%.
History repeating!
the 1984 labour govt voted in because “change the govt”
and fucked the country
2017 labour govt
minister of Justice rt hon willie jackson
minister of police rt hon greg oconnor
yay we won !! :0 $%
hint.. nat knows this one is lost! the fight now is for control of the labour party and they just about have that in the bag!
Completely unhinged…
yes thats right!
Not completely. National do know that they will inevitably lose at some point. They and their business and media supporters put great effort into influencing what an incoming Labour-led government will feel inclined or able to do. For instance the 2000 bogus ‘winter of discontent’ manufactured by Fran O’Sullivan, the championing of David Shearer as a replacement for Goff run by Matthew Hooten, the vicious lies/distortions about Cunliffe and Donghua Liu from John Armstrong. It is Important to National that the structures of privilege are not unpicked while they are out of office – then when they get back in they can double down.
Sorry off-topic somewhat
not off topic at all!
WTF… the Rt Hon designation is not for new MPs still wet behind their lugs
xanthe, you’re getting mischievous now. How likely is it that people so new to the party would be immediately given ministerial duties?
Contrast the reception Willie has received from the NZLP brass as a non-Labour member grandstanding vs the chilly brushoff Laila Harré received when she mentioned she was rejoining Labour.
All in the name of a bit of utu against the Maori Party and Tuku Morgan.
Poto Williams makes her statement all about her in repeatedly using the first person. for example I am yet to hear that he understands, I am yet to hear that he wishes to work on putting that right and apologise for his behaviour, I welcome the opportunity
to support Jackson in apologising and making those changes.
The fact is he has apologised on several occasions but obviously this is not good enough for Poto Williams.
I wonder if i receive an apology from Williams for underminig the traction that labour had gotten in the last few weeks
Andrew Little will have told her in no uncertain terms that if she has a problem with someone, she needs to talk to that person, not to the media. And that applies to everyone in caucus and to aspiring Labour MPs. Complaining to the media about one of their own is a mug’s game.
[lprent: You really are a bit of a silly fuckwit. She didn’t “complain to the media”. She put it on her Facebook page. Banned for 2 weeks for lying and general inaccuracy. Please lift your game. Being a STUPID troll is unacceptable. ]
Newshub is now reporting that Ms Williams hired a private PR firm who circulated her statement to some media organisations before she put it on Facebook: http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/02/poto-williams-hired-pr-firm-for-willie-jackson-ploy.html
If that’s true, I’d expect to see her firmly punished for actively lobbying her own party via the media. Not OK at. any time, and certainly not in an election year.
If its true then it tells me she did not have majority support for her stand in the caucus…
There’s a small group of young(ish)
bratsindividuals – most of whom live in Wellington – who I understand have been fomenting mischief behind the scenes on and off for a few years now… mostly for what they perceive to be in their mutual interest. Some of them are even parliamentary staffers or at least they were in the past. Shame, because the vast majority of young folk in the Labour Party are a credit to the party and to their generation. One of them, who goes by the pseudonym ‘The Fan Club’ (TFC for short) popped up on this site yesterday after a lengthy absence, and had a nasty dig at Andrew Little. No coincidence in my view. Andrew Little will know who they are, and their machinations will come to nought while he is leader. 🙂+1 Anne.
Ummm. This appears to be exactly the same thing that Andrew Little was doing as well. I seem to remember a few standups where he made a few claims about what he was doing for Willie. Tell me, was his peremptory action approved by caucus, the shadow cabinet, or the Labour council after the usual due process?
Which is of course what should have happened on question of a list selection. And yet you seem to have a different standard for someone making a statement on her allocated area of expertise and as an elected MP to voice disapproval of the attempt to bypass process and talk to media. She did it without sneaking around in the middle of the night shoving envelopes under press gallery doors, and with her name attached.
Do I sense a double standard? Incidentally if I was wanting to get a statement out to media and didn’t have TS to do it, then I suspect that a PR firm with expertise and a mailing list would probably be an effective way to do it.
Little deserves a telling-off from his party President – and Williams from her caucus leader. Plus whatever needs to happen to make sure this does not repeat itself this side of the election. Please.
Perhaps “complained via social media” would have been more accurate. Outcome similar.
Pretty reasonable in the context: she outlines what her role is in the party and how that obliges her to speak out on domestic violence and on this occasion in particular.
She then carefully explains the situation as she sees it:
That gives everyone an out. Maybe she missed a genuine apology from WJ. Maybe he can treat it seriously and apologise with a straight face. She’s not demanding he apologise to her, she’s demanding that his apology be as public and as comprehensive as his original statements, and that he genuinely communicate that he knows why what he said was wrong.
And when there is a nationwide campaign to get people to speak up about domestic violence, and the party allegedly opposes domestic violence, surely at the very least the caucus spokesperson on the issue of domestic violence is required to be seen to speak up?
McFlock……..Yes. Exactly.
Him starting another apology by telling the media that he’s apologised all these times already, and then still not giving an actual apology… it’s not wonder so many people don’t believe him.
[lprent: You really are a bit of a silly fuckwit. She didn’t “complain to the media”. She put it on her Facebook page. Banned for 2 weeks for lying and general inaccuracy. Please lift your game. Being a STUPID troll is unacceptable. ]
Ummmm no, she hired a PR company to write and seed it with the media.
How come the Standard can dredge up a 12 year interview with Willie Jackson, but can’t notice a story breaking just 2 hours ago that Poto Williams hired a PR team to write the attack on Willie Jackson and that they seeded it with media before hand.
You’ve all been taken in like chumps, but refuse to admit it.
This unbelievable division is why Labour can’t win elections.
Well done folks
Perhaps you should look at the dates and times. You appear to be confused about them.
You are looking at a story that apparently got released today, and then apparently telling me that Ross knew about it yesterday. This is possible I guess. But I and other authors don’t spend our work time reading news.
Now I have no idea if you actually work for a living or if you are just a parasite on The Daily Blog. But I know that I do, and so do almost all of the authors at TS. That is why the site is voluntary. It is also why we let comments through without having to manually release them and why we ban people who break our rules and trust. Unlike you we treat commenters as adults until they prove themselves not to be.
It is also why we have far more comments and readers. We do not censor under the covers like you do.
Quite how you can think that I can moderate yesterday based on story from today is a mystery. But you do appear to be somewhat confused about most things.
Edit: I also put this comment with a minor variation on TDB. It will be interesting if the thin-skinned avenger will publish it… Bets anyone.
Agreed bomber.
Oh Lynn, you sad old tyrant – what about Ross – can we free Ross from your ban?
Come on champ, you’ve been chumped – let’s get back to the actual issue which is Poto hired a PR firm to slag off Willie Jackson and in turn undermine Little leadership – you claimed (falsely it turns out) that she didn’t contact the media.
Now – can we just let poor old Ross comment on this horrendous blog you host (I’m nt sure why Ross would want to do that) but maybe you could just imagine that your anger was misplaced and you could give Ross a break Lynn?
You were after all completely fucking wrong.
This point is critical and needs sorting – did Poto Williams use a PR company to contact the media? And therefore was Ross not lying after all, and does he deserve an apology and reinstatement?
See my comment below.
If you want to persist in violating the site policy, then I’d be happy to demonstrate a few of the sanctions we use to dissuade in stupidly questioning moderation.
After all, you don’t have anything like the level of skin in the game if we get it wrong and publish defamatory statements.
And aren’t neo-liberal barbarians like you all about taking the responsibility for your own actions and demanding the authority to take it. Mind you I have never actually noticed it really happening. I rather think it is simply another idiotic myth by a small group of whiners..
Please note I wasn’t making claims, Bradbury did that. I was suggesting that his assertion needed to be confirmed or refuted. You claim to have done that and I will accept it. BTW I wear the neoliberal (i.e. libertarian) label with pride.
What I was saying from the start of the typically logic free bradbury braying was that the claim was completely irrelevant to the moderation.
I can only look at what is in front of me at the time I moderate. That means what is in the comment and (if I am generous) what is in the news at the time. The legal obligation that I have under defamation law is based around knowingly publishing false fact.
Most people are pretty good about not doing that. Those who are not, in my view, don’t deserve to maintain their commenting abilities here. In practice most of them will learn from experience.
Some like Bradbury appear to be a bit defective in the learning department.
+1
Ah no. Why? Because you are completely wrong and somewhat stupid about thinking on moderation – as I have pointed out several times before.
Unless he could show me yesterday how he knew then that something that only came out today, then he lied yesterday. That was what he was banned for.
The behaviour of directly lying about someone and not offering up proof or backing is both morally reprehensible (although I notice that you never seem to get too worried about it) and legally precarious across a number of civil and even criminal acts.
The offense in civil defamation law is not about what I (or Ross) learnt after the event. It is what was known at the time.
But I suspect you are a bit too self-adsorbed with yourself to understand the finer points of legal principle. Do you EVER bother to think when you write things down?
Putting this site in legal danger is something that I take very seriously because if the fucker did it once then they will do it again.
“The actual issue”.
Meanwhile, on Earth, “the actual issue” isn’t your People’s Judean Front purge fetish.
Blow harder, Bombast.
While you’re here, Bomber, have you reconsidered your indolent—and wrong—habit of referring to racists, sexists and bigots in general as “rednecks”?
Especially as he doesn’t apply the label to himself. Some of the stories that his female ex-authors tell would tend to indicate that he is at least two out of the three.
Perhaps he is so hot on Willie because in reality he favours the interview style that Willie used in the RoastBuster interview of a young woman talking about a rape culture in schools.