“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.
The state of the United Kingdom is fractured, torn up, shredded. The Empire is gone, it died a long time ago. And yet, the country is still tracking with a lead in favour of the ones who play to the ingrained, class-bound division for political gain. It is a disgrace ...
It should be obvious by now but let’s be clear: The same folk who regularly traffic in disinformation, misinformation and “fake news” are also those who most strongly claim that their freedom of expression rights are being violated when moves are made to curb hate speech (as opposed to protected ...
Michael SchulsonWhen Shane Burcaw flies on an airplane, he brings along a customized gel cushion, a car seat, and about 10 pieces of memory foam. The whole arsenal costs around $1,000, but for Burcaw it’s a necessity. The 27-year-old author and speaker — who, alongside his fiancée, Hannah ...
We are very pleased to publish this submission is from Lucinda Stoan. She is a social justice activist, mother, and educator, based in Washington State in the US. This detailed and comprehensive source-linked overview of trans issues and what is at stake will be useful for many people, especially in ...
New Zealand's Underarm Banker: It bears recalling that the “independence” of the Reserve Bank Governor was for decades held up by neoliberal capitalists as the most compelling justification for passing the Reserve Bank Act. Interesting, is it not, how the ruling class’s support for the Bank’s independence lasted no longer than ...
Rubbish In, Rubbish Out: Put all this together, and it’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that anyone who responds positively to a pollster’s request to “answer a few questions” is just ever-so-slightly weird. Desperately lonely? Some sort of psephological train-spotter? Political party member primed to skew the poll for or against ...
“Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. A long and bitter court feud between former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig and Jordan Williams has been settled, with an apology and compensation from Williams. On Tuesday, Craig sent out ...
Some people seem to want to close down any critical discussion of the current research into the relationship between water fluoride and child IQ. They appear to argue that claims made by researchers should not be open to critical review and that the claims be accepted without proper consideration ...
The government has been congratulating itself over the passage of the Zero Carbon Act, which sets out long-term emissions targets. Meanwhile, Climate Action Tracker has the shameful reality: those targets are insufficient:While New Zealand is showing leadership by having passed the world’s second-ever Zero Carbon Act in November 2019, under ...
The government introduced a Racing Industry Bill today. As an urban who horse racing as pointless-to-cruel, and gambling as a tax on stupidity and/or hope, this isn't normally a bill which would interest me in the slightest, beyond grumpiness at more government money for a dying industry. But there is ...
Check. Check. One, two, three, four. Is this thing ON? Hello readers, I logged in last night (yeah, it’s been a while) to mark THE END of the landmark legal case, Jordan Williams v Colin Craig, which (gulp) reached The Supreme Court, in which New Zealand’s most-defamed man was suing the politician he ...
Before The Birth: Israel’s most fervent supporters set their clocks ticking in Biblical times. They cite the kingdoms of David and Solomon as proof that, in the words of the Exodus movie’s theme-song: “This land is mine.” The majority of Israel’s backers, however, start their clocks in 1933 – the year Adolf ...
In an unreliable, strange and confusing world, Public Address is proud to present a measure of comfort and stability by annually asking everyone what words or phrases sum up the year that's been – and then giving some of them consumer goods as prizes for being clever or simply lucky.Well, ...
Both my parents are pretty handy – and they seem to have the right tools for most jobs in the garage and they know how to fix practically anything. A similar story could be told about their generation’s experience in the workforce – being a generalist was not unusual and ...
When it was revealed that NZ First had tried to enrich itself from public office via the Provoncial Growth Fund, the Prime Minister assured us that everything was OK as Shane Jones, the Minister responsible for the fund, had recused himself. Except it seems that that recusal came very late ...
Today is a Member's Day, and probably the last one of the year. After the marathon of the End of Life Choice Act, most of the bills up for debate today are uncontentious. First up is the second reading of Chlöe Swarbrick's Election Access Fund Bill. This will be followed ...
The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee has reported back on the government's odious and tyrannical control orders bill. As expected, the fraudulent select committee process has made no significant changes (partly because they couldn't agree, but mostly because it was a stitch-up from the start, with no intention of ...
Yesterday, the government released its draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill, which will be put to a non-binding referendum at the next election. I'm not a drug policy expert, but Russell Brown is, and he thinks its pretty good. And pretty obviously, it will be a massive improvement on the ...
As you're probably aware, the draft bill outlining the proposed legal cannabis regime to be put to a referendum late next year was published yesterday, and has already attracted a flurry of comment. It's notable that a good deal of the comment is about proposals that aren't actually new.A minimum ...
One of the big problems in New Zealand climate change policy is the government working at cross-purposes with itself. It wants to reduce fossil fuel use, but encourages oil and gas exploration. It wants to reduce transport emissions, but then builds enormous new roads. The problem could be avoided if ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzAccording to the United Nations, food shortages are a threat ...
Last year, the government announced it was ending offshore oil exploration by no longer issuing new permits. The idea was that the industry would then die off as permits expired. Except almost immediately the government revealed its bad faith, by saying they would extend permits and alter conditions to keep ...
The government introduced the Education and Training Bill to Parliament yesterday. Its a massive bill, which replaces both existing Education Acts, as well as various other bits of legislation (including some which are still proceeding through the House). I'll leave the serious analysis to teachers and people who actually know ...
Amelia SharmanThere’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to micro-credentials, those bits of bite-sized learning that can help workers stay on top of technological change. What’s a micro-credential? While definitions vary, micro-credentials can be understood as short courses that allow people to learn new skills or have an existing competency recognised. ...
All Smiles Now: Claire Szabo is taking up her presidential role after serving as the CEO of Habitat For Humanity. Which is absolutely perfect! After KiwiBuild was so comprehensively mismanaged by Phil Twyford, the party has not only elected a new president from a thoroughly respectable not-for-profit, but one who ...
While much of the NZ left has transitioned to postmodern and identity politics in relation to transgender ideology, there are some very good articles about that deploy Marxist methodology in relation to this subject. The one below is from the British marxist group Counterfire and appeared on their site here ...
by Daphna Whitmore At Golden Oaks, a luxurious country retreat in the Hudson Valley, pregnant women have the best care money can buy. From the organic food, personalised exercise programmes, private yoga instruction and daily massages Golden Oaks looks like a country lodge for the upper class. Set some time ...
When Labour was running for election in 2017, it felt it needed to demonstrate "fiscal responsibility" and signed itself up to masochistic "budget responsibility rules". It was a fool's errand: the sorts of voters who demand fiscal responsibility are also the sorts of voters who believe that labour can never ...
Writing in Stuff, Joel MacManus looks at what we need to do to meet the Zero Carbon Act's targets. The core of it:1. Convert 85 per cent of vehicles on the road to electric. 2. Eliminate fossil fuels from all industrial heating up to 300 degrees Celsius. 3. Double our ...
Professors Janet Hoek and Richard Edwards, Emeritus Professor Phil Gendall, Jude Ball, Dr Judith McCool, Anaru Waa, Dr Becky FreemanRecent media reports have presented conflicting evidence on youth vaping in NZ. While some NZ school principals report concerns about increasing vaping on school grounds and confiscating vapes, ASH Year ...
“America the Beautiful!”, staunch defender of democracy, freedom and… a whole lot of despotic tyrants that play nice with what is called “the Washington Consensus.” America is indeed capable of immense good, but like any Nation, and most assuredly any aspirant to the mantle of Empire, great, immense evil. All ...
Image credit:The beginner’s guide to blogging I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is ...
1080 is used to control pests in NZ. Its use is contested by a noisy few. A new report claims high levels of 1080 in rats washed up on a beach. Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa (F&F) won’t name the laboratory that did their testing. It has sparked a hunt ...
What Kind Of Empire? The thing for Kiwis to decide is what kind of empire they want to belong to. The kind that, while offering its own citizens democratic rights, demands absolute obedience from its “friends”? Or, the kind that, while authoritarian at home, takes a relaxed attitude to the ...
It hasn't been a good week for the Conservatives, pollwise. All major recent polls are showing their lead shrinking.Comparing each pollster's current (between 29/11 and 22/11) and previous most recent poll.Com Res - Conservative lead down 3 points.You Gov - Conservative lead down 1 point.Kantar - Conservative lead down 4 ...
Within quick succession, Countdown maths wizard and twitterer Rachel Riley, alleged comedian David Baddiel and prominent lawyer Andrew Julius have all expressed very similar opinions / ideas:
These #3billboards are going round London today, organised by ex-Labour people, horrified by what their party has become. Their principles haven’t changed, they’re ...
So, there have been a bunch of bad polls out for Labour, and even the Leftie's friend, Survation, have recently given the Conservatives a rip-snorting 11% lead. You Gov's much vaunted MRP poll - which pretty much nailed the result in 2015 - is currently predicting a comfortable majority for ...
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to declare a climate emergency:The European parliament has declared a global “climate and environmental emergency” as it urged all EU countries to commit to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The vote came as scientists warned that the world may have already crossed ...
Pure Fear: Worse than Heroin, this drug’s addictive power was terrifying. People under its influence didn’t drift off to Elysium. Nor did it persuade inadequate individuals that they could conquer the world. No, this drug – pure crystal methamphetamine, “P” for short – unlocked the gates of Hell itself. It ...
As the rate of measles infection, and of deaths, continues to climb in Samoa, antivaccination activists infectious disease proponents seem intent on doubling down on their claims about vaccination. (Check pretty much any news-media FB post about measles & you’ll see exactly what I mean.) Unfortunately, some of them have ...
Samoa are experiencing a devastating measles epidemic. It is possible that 2-3% of the population will ultimately be infected by the time it is over. Hopefully the mass immunisation campaign currently under way can mitigate some of this, for many it is too late. The first question many people ask ...
Meghan Murphy is a Canadian writer and journalist She runs the Feminist Current website which she founded in 2012. She was a keynote speaker for the Feminism2020 conference in Wellington this month. When Massey University cancelled the original venue booking Feminism2020 was hosted in Parliament by MP David Seymour. Meghan ...
Text and photos by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh Colombia has lived through one week of protests against the economic measures taken by president Duque. What looked like a protest that would fizzle out after its first day on November 21st is still going strong. Part of the reason for the continuance ...
Around a million billion pass through you each second, almost all originating from our sun, but few of them are likely to interact with you enroute. I was reading in a physics magazine earlier in the week about the nature of neutrinos. These are extremely numerous elementary particles, but only ...
By Pallab GhoshThere’s value in covering new research advances, even when the underlying science is unsettled. But there are also risks.The recent announcement that scientists discovered water on the planet K2-18b, 110 light years away, prompted a media swoon. News stories, including a piece written by me, billed ...
I wrote this review a couple of years ago when I was still in the process of getting my head around the politics of transgenderism, and specifically the claim that intersex conditions lend support to the notion that sex is ‘socially constructed’. Since writing this review I have come across ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzHow much does our use of air travel contribute to the ...
Minor planet/asteroid (2309) Mr. Spock is named not for the character in Star Trek, but for a cat that was itself imperturbable, logical, intelligent and had pointed ears. In a preceding blog post I introduced one of my favourite asteroids, (2472) Bradman, and also mentioned (6581) Sobers amongst a few ...
Today the death toll from measles in Samoa rose to 32. All but four of the dead were less than 5 years old. Absolutely terrible, heartbreaking, news. That statistic alone should be enough to give the lie to the common claim by antivaccination activists plague enthusiasts that “measles is a ...
by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh It is late here in Bogotá, almost 11.30pm on Monday the 25th of November as I write this. The day began full of hope with yet more massive marches throughout the country, a mix of the International Day of Non-Violence Against Women and the National Strike. ...
Anti-fluoride activists are rubbing their hands in glee over what they claim is “yet another study” showing fluoride harms the brains of children. But their promotion relies on IQ relationships which the paper’s authors acknowledge disappearing when outliers or other factors are considered. And they completely ignore other relationships ...
The feature below is the conclusion of A History of Economic Thought, whose author was a leading Marxist economist in Russia in the early 20th century, Isaac Ilyich Rubin. The book arose from a course he ran at Moscow University following the Russian Revolution. First published in Russian in 1929, ...
There are many thousands of asteroids with formal names, some humdrum but other more noteworthy (depending on your predilections). One of my favourites, the name of which I was involved in suggesting, is (2472) Bradman, named for the Australian cricketing great. As a minor planet (synonym: asteroid) spotter, I have ...
Tory manifesto: big on austerity, low on promise, non-existent on delivery. The Tories: the party so big on ambition they couldn't be arsed writing a manifesto. MLK: "I have a dream!"BJ: "I'll just have a nap." Labour: Broadband!Tories: Narrow minds! Labour have hope, dreams and ambition. The Tories will save ...
The Ministry of Health has announced that “people under the age of 50 travelling from New Zealand to Samoa, Tonga, Philippines and Fiji” are now on the list of national priorities for MMR vaccination. Given the outbreaks of measles in Samoa, Tonga, Philippines and Fiji, the Ministry of Health is ...
Hong Kong has been protesting for six months for, demanding democracy, human rights, and an end to police violence. Today, they went to the polls in district council elections - a low-level of government with virtually no power, similar to community boards in New Zealand. But while the positions themselves ...
Text and photos by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh On Friday 22nd of November a curfew came into effect and troops were deployed on the streets, here in Bogota. It was the first time since September 1977 that a curfew had been imposed on the city. The decision was a cynical pre-planned ...
Meanwhile, while the government is planning to restore voting rights to prisoners, National is promising to turn our prisons into US-style slave-labour camps:The Opposition is proposing compulsory education, training or employment for prisoners who are serving sentences of two years or more. [...] On Sunday, National Party Leader Simon Bridges ...
Excerpts from Being and Being Bought, by Kajsa Ekis Ekman Spinifex Press, 2013. Ekman, a Swedish journalist and critic, brings together a Marxist and feminist analysis of prostitution and surrogacy in this groundbreaking book. This is the second part of a synopsis and brief commentary of the book by Daphna ...
Dalmeet Singh ChawlaIn 2008, psychologists proposed that when humans are shown an unfamiliar face, they judge it on two main dimensions: trustworthiness and physical strength. These form the basis of first impressions, which may help people make important social decisions, from who to vote for to how long a ...
Claas Kirchhelle, University of Oxford; Adam Roberts, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Andrew Singer, Centre for Ecology & HydrologyAntibiotics are among the most important medicines known to humankind, but we are running out of this crucial resource. Decisive action is needed if we are to retain access to ...
Things That Make You Go - Hmmmm: “All right. Let me come at this another way. I’m guessing that what you’ve got in that box contains names, dates, bank account numbers – all the details you need to put Winston Peters and Jacinda Ardern squarely in the cross-hairs. So, the first ...
Coasters Turn Out In Droves: It’s precisely the widening gulf between those with actual experience of things like guns, chainsaws and drilling machines, and those who regulate their use, that accounts for the angry crowd at Greymouth’s Messenger Park on Sunday, 17 November 2019. In the rarefied atmosphere where decisions ...
There are perennial arguments about the circumstances of the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, and in particular whether more than one shooter is required by the evidence (such as the Zapruder film). Those who know little about physics frequently claim that the sharp backwards motion of JFK’s head as ...
Apparently, some people enjoy washing their cars. Each to his or her own, I suppose. I mean, some people like duck shooting, some people follow Coronation Street, and some people’s idea of a good day out is to sit on a grass bank at Seddon Park and watch cricket all ...
Last week we learned that New Zealand First had apparently tried to enrich itself from public office, with a dodgy forestry company linked to a number of NZ First figures sticking its hand out repeatedly for government money. Today in Question Time Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones had his ...
Finally, governments seem slowly to be beginning to act on climate change. But its not enough. While they're publicly signing up to targets, they're planning to destroy the world by continuing fossil fuel extraction:The world’s nations are on track to produce more than twice as much coal, oil and gas ...
Stuff has begun interviewing NZ First's secret donors, and it turns out that its as bad as we expected. They start with racing industry figure Garry Chittick, who is predictably grumpy about NZ First's coalition choices. Meanwhile, I'm looking at the list of pork NZ First has effectively given its ...
Mark Patterson, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First spokesperson for Primary Industries, Mark Patterson, has called for awareness to be raised and more stringent biosecurity checks to be put in place for African Swine Fever (ASF), a widespread virus that is uncontrolled in most of Asia and a serious ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Human Rights A critical step has been taken to end gender based violence against women and girls in Parliament this evening. New Zealand First Spokesperson for Human Rights Jenny Marcroft MP has welcomed the passing of the first reading of the Crimes (Definition of Female ...
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says it's time to recognise market forces haven't led to the expected reduction in Māori smoking rates and try a new approach. The Party had recently invoked the agree to disagree clause in their Coalition Agreement with the Labour Party, and will not support ...
Live from the Whanganui Opera House, on the final day of the 2019 Labour Party Conference, Jacinda Ardern announced the largest investment in school property in 25 years. ...
The Coalition Government will be banning foreign donations to political parties and candidates, ahead of next year’s general elections. Legislation will be introduced to Parliament and passed under urgency – emphasising the need for such restrictions to safeguard our democracy. The bill introduces a new requirement that party secretaries and ...
Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones opened Taipā's $19 million bridge recently, improving transport infrastructure in the Northland region. The two-lane bridge is 107m long with a 2.5m-wide shared walking and cycling path, and will reduce the congestion that the old one-lane bridge was notorious for. The project had also included ...
The Overseas Investment Office have rejected the application of Mercury Agriculture LP, which is 92 per cent controlled by Canadian interests, to purchase more than 2000 hectares of South Canterbury and Otago land. Mercury wanted to buy 2000ha at Rangitata, 1494ha near Ashburton, 816ha near Cromwell and 212ha near Temuka. ...
This weekend was Labour's 103rd Party Conference! We welcomed over 500 of our Labour whānau in red to Whanganui, where we reflected on the last two years in Government, and looked ahead to 2020 and beyond. We know the long-term challenges facing New Zealand won't be tackled overnight, but we're making ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced that the Provincial Growth Fund will invest $9.6 million to seal the final unsealed section of State Highway 43 from Stratford to Taumarunui. The Minister said sealing the 12-kilometre gravel section of the highway – also called the “Forgotten World Highway” - through ...
Former Finance Minister and former chair of the Tax Working Group, Sir Michael Cullen, has voiced his support for New Zealand First’s decision to oppose the planned increase in tobacco excise tax. In an interview with The Weekend Collective, he said that increasing the price was no longer effective in ...
Māori are natural storytellers. On the marae we use stories to tell our history, to teach the next generation life lessons and to let people know, in our most creative of ways, who we are and where we have come from. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First has invoked the ‘Agree to Disagree’ provisions of the Coalition Agreement because it cannot support the announced 11.46 percent increase in the tobacco excise from 1 January 2020. “Studies show that the automatic tobacco excise increases are having less effect ...
Taupō-based company Geo40 has made a breakthrough in extracting near battery-grade lithium from geothermal fluid which its says could be a gamechanger. Its chief executive John Worth said the earth mineral was highly prized, with battery-grade lithium selling for US$10,000 (NZ$15,600) a tonne. Geo40 was founded in 2010 to find ...
Crown research institute AgResearch Ltd, as part of its Future Footprint plan, had intended to relocate top scientists and support staff — particularly those focused on sheep genetics and genomics — from Invermay to Lincoln. However, those plans seem to have been shelved at the request of the Coalition Government. ...
Ten engineering firms in Southland are receiving a total of $2.13 million in Provincial Growth Fund funding to lift productivity and create new jobs. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced in Invercargill that the 10 engineering and manufacturing firms would receive funding to assist them with buying equipment that ...
The number of new residents to New Zealand is the lowest it has been in nearly two decades and it has earned the ire of the immigration industry. The industry alleges that 'Trump-style extreme vetting' is being put in place aimed at keeping a lid on immigration numbers. June Ranson, ...
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is one step closer to modernising its fleet after the United States State Department recently approved the sale of five new C-130J Hercules aircraft to New Zealand. Arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin, in Fort Worth, Texas, will provide the aircraft, but as a "foreign military ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones wants to create a log barging facility at Hicks Bay and turn the area into a Special Economic Zone. The move would be part of protecting New Zealand's forests from being depleted by India and China, he said. It follows his announcement last week to strengthen ...
New Zealand First supports the changes recommended by the Winter Grazing Taskforce to improve animal welfare outcomes through the winter months, and the establishment of a pan-sector action group to implement them. New Zealand First Primary Industries Spokesperson Mark Patterson says the report highlights areas of concern about the animal ...
Former prime ministers Helen Clark and Sir John Key, formerly from the Labour and National parties respectively, have joined forces in support of New Zealand First’s plan to relocate Auckland's port to Whangārei. While Ms Clark and Sir John spent their political careers on opposite sides of the political divide, ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is in Japan for the Foreign Ministers' meeting of the G20 grouping of countries as one of nine "invited" countries. He has used the opportunity to cast a spotlight on the plight of Pacific countries, calling out countries which still offered subsidies or Government assistance to ...
It's been a great week of progress: we've celebrated Children's Day, we've made communities safer with 1800 new police, and we've seen almost 90% of eligible schools take up Government funding to scrap school donations - taking pressure off the families of more than 416,000 students. ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister of Forestry The Government will further strengthen New Zealand’s wood processing sector as part of our focus on ‘value over volume’ in our forestry industry, Forestry Minister Shane Jones says. Minister Jones will today meet with forestry representatives in Northland to signal new measures to help the ...
New Zealand First are celebrating the announcement of an investment of $3.5 million into five new trapping devices. These are a range of bait and trap devices, all designed to be left unattended for long periods of time. NZ First conservation spokesperson Jenny Marcroft says that this latest development will ...
Darroch Ball, Spokesperson for Police New Zealand First is proud to have delivered on a key Coalition Agreement commitment to adding 1800 new frontline police, with the graduation of Recruit Wing 332 in Porirua today. Law and Order Spokesperson Darroch Ball says increasing police numbers and boosting their resources was one ...
Jenny Marcroft, Spokesperson for Conservation New Zealand First is proud to announce the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) has allocated $3.5 million to develop innovative predator control approaches which will reduce the need for repeated 1080 use. $19.5 million of PGF funding was announced for Predator Free 2050 Limited in February ...
Clayton Mitchell, Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs The ‘wheel clamping’ Bill that will cap clamper fees to $100 passed its third readinginParliament today. New Zealand First welcomes The Land Transport (Wheel Clamping) Amendment Bill to combat predatory wheel clamping behaviour in what is currently a largely unregulated business. Cowboy clampers are: gouging ...
Jenny Marcroft, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First welcomes the passage of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill through its first reading in Parliament. “Today’s progress takes serious action on the mental health and addiction crisis the country is facing,” says New Zealand First Health Spokesperson Jenny Marcroft. “The re-establishment ...
Mark Patterson, Spokesperson for Primary Industries Today the Government announced the delivery of the promise to protect New Zealand interests by applying a new National Interest Test to the sales of our most sensitive and high risk assets to overseas buyers. This further strengthening of the Overseas Investment Act will ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced further support as the Government of Samoa responds to a serious measles outbreak. “New Zealand will deploy a further 18 vaccination nurses, bringing the total to 30 working in Samoa over the next ...
The Coalition Government is delivering on its promise to protect New Zealanders’ interests by applying a new national interest test to the sales of our most sensitive and high-risk assets to overseas buyers. Under current Overseas Investment Act (OIA) rules, assets such as ports and airports, telecommunications infrastructure, electricity and ...
Rt Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First Allegations raised this morning by Stuff Limited / Fairfax concern a party matter but I am confident that New Zealand First has operated within electoral laws, now and for the last 27 years. Declarable donations were declared to the Electoral Commission. Our ...
A medium-scale adverse event has been declared for the South Canterbury district, which will see up to $50,000 in funding made available to support farming communities which have been significantly affected by recent heavy rain and flooding in the area, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two weeks of solid rain ...
The Government will phase out more single-use plastics following the success of its single-use plastic bag ban earlier this year and the release today of a pivotal report for dealing with waste. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealandreport, released by her Chief Science Advisor ...
International education continues to thrive as the Government focuses on quality over quantity, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. The tuition revenue from international education increased to $1.16 billion last year with the average tuition fee per student increasing by $960. The total number of international students enrolled in New Zealand ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says new appointments to DHBs represent a significant changing of the guard, with 13 new chairs including four Māori chairs. Today 76 appointments have been announced to complement elected board members, as well as eight elected members appointed as either chair or deputy chair. Four ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Fletcher Tabuteau, is travelling to Germany, Poland, Austria, and Spain next week to bolster New Zealand’s political and trade relationships in Europe. While in Spain, Mr Tabuteau will represent New Zealand at the 14th Asia-Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid. “New Zealand strongly supports ...
“I’ve spoken to Minister Faafoi, who has apologised for his poor handling of this issue,” Jacinda Ardern said. “I have confidence in Kris as a hardworking and effective Minister, but this should have been dealt with in a much clearer manner, and I’ve made my views on that very clear ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters met with Tongan Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa in Wellington today. The pair signed a Statement of Partnership setting out joint priorities for cooperation out to 2023. “We welcomed Prime Minister Tu'i'onetoa on his first visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister. Tonga ...
The Minister of Police Stuart Nash says his sympathies are with the family of a man who died after being shot by Police in Kurow. “Initial reports are that Police were called by a family member to help the man who was threatening to harm himself,” Mr Nash says. “However ...
Healthier waterways, better productivity and farmer wellbeing are front and centre in a new project involving more than 1000 Southland farmers and growers. Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor today announced that the Thriving Southland Change and Innovation Project is the first region-wide extension programme supported by the $229 million Sustainable ...
Work to look after nature and restore freshwater quality in Te Hoiere/Pelorus River catchment is getting a significant boost, thanks to new Government funding support Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage announced in Canvastown today. “Every New Zealander should be able to swim in their local river without getting sick, and ...
Eight Queen’s Counsel have been appointed under a process that includes the new criterion of a commitment to improving access to justice, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. “The new criterion was included this year. It emphasises that excellence and leadership in the profession can be seen through a wider, community ...
Onslow College in Wellington will get 20 new classrooms for more than 400 students, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. The much-needed investment will relieve growth pressure the school has been experiencing for some time. Seven existing classrooms which have deteriorated over time will also be replaced, bringing the total ...
More than 250 young New Zealanders will add international experience to their education, thanks to the latest Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia (PMSA) and Latin America (PMSLA), Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This round of scholarships supports 252 recent graduates or current students to undertake study, research or internships ...
Consumers will benefit from a more competitive, transparent retail fuel market as a result of changes the Government will be making in response to the findings of the Commerce Commission’s study of the fuel sector. “We accept the Commission’s findings and, as the Prime Minister has said, we’re ready to ...
Five new cancer medicines have now been funded this year, meaning thousands of people have more treatment options PHARMAC has today announced that it has approved two new medicines for funding – fulvestrant for breast cancer and olaparib for ovarian cancer. This follows earlier decisions on advanced lung cancer treatment alectinib, ...
The Minister of Local Government, Hon Nanaia Mahuta says the Government will consider making changes to local electoral legislation before the 2022 elections to fix the problems that have arisen where elections are settled by a coin toss. The Minister says the recount process in the Murupara- Galatea ward at ...
New Zealand will sign up to new international maritime regulations to reduce ship emissions and lift air quality around ports and harbours, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter announced today. Subject to completion of the Parliamentary treaty examination process, New Zealand will sign up to Annex VI of MARPOL, an ...
New legislation to transform our urban areas and create sustainable, inclusive and thriving communities will tomorrow be introduced to Parliament, Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford said. “The Urban Development Bill gives Kāinga Ora-Homes and Communities the tools it needs to partner with councils, communities, mana whenua and private developers to ...
Today’s launch of He taonga te Tamaiti: Every child a taonga: The Early Learning Action Plan 2019-2029 provides the foundation for long-lasting changes to early learning, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. “Early learning will be one of the Government’s top education priorities going into 2020,” Chris Hipkins said. ...
Major decisions made by the Government will now be considered under a climate change lens, Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. “Cabinet routinely considers the effects of its decisions on human rights, the Treaty of Waitangi, rural communities, the disability community, and gender – now climate change will ...
Education Minister Chris Hipkins today announced the appointment of Māori education specialist Dr Wayne Ngata and Business NZ head Kirk Hope to the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). Dr Alastair MacCormick has been reappointed for another term. “Wayne Ngata, Kirk Hope and Alastair MacCormick bring a great deal ...
The next phase of the Pike River Re-entry project is underway, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little says. “Fresh air will be pumped into the Pike River Mine drift this week, following acceptance of the plan for re-entry beyond the 170m barrier by New Zealand’s independent health and ...
New Zealand consumers will have greater certainty about their insurance cover when they need to make claims as a result of proposed government changes. “Insurance is vitally important in supporting consumers and businesses to be financially resilient when unexpected events happen,” Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Kris Faafoi said. ...
The Crown is providing an opportunity for the hapu of Ngāpuhi to rebuild its framework from the ground up for collective negotiations to deal with its historical Treaty claims, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little and Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The Crown is also ...
A Bill enabling referendums to be held with the 2020 General Election has passed its third reading. Justice Minister Andrew Little says the Act is important for upholding the integrity of New Zealand’s electoral process. “The Government has committed to holding a referendum on legalising recreational cannabis at the next ...
The first release of public information on the two referendums to be held at next year’s General Election was made today with an informative new Government website going live. Additionally, the draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill has been released, showing the strict controls on cannabis that will apply if ...
The Government is taking action to protect New Zealand from foreign interference in our elections by banning foreign donations to political parties and candidates, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today. Legislation will be introduced to Parliament this afternoon and passed under urgency. “There’s no need for anyone other than New ...
Governments and tech companies are holding a two-day workshop, hosted by YouTube/Google in Wellington, to test the Christchurch Call Shared Crisis Response Protocol. The workshop aims to refine and strengthen the response in the event of a terrorist attack with online implications. Companies, governments, civil society experts and NGOs will ...
The new independent Cancer Control Agency has formally opened today, delivering on the Government’s plan to improve cancer care in New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Health David Clark marked the occasion by announcing the membership of the Advisory Council that will be supporting ...
Small businesses who deal with government departments are set to be paid faster and have improved cash flow as a result, under a new strategy released today. The Government is backing recommendations from the Small Business Council (SBC) and has agreed to implement three initiatives immediately to support business and ...
The Education and Training Bill 2019, introduced in Parliament today, proposes the biggest education changes in decades and is an important step towards improving success for all our learners, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. “The Bill’s rewrite of education legislation is long overdue. Indeed one Education Act, parts of which ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio will travel to Bali to represent New Zealand at the 12th Bali Democracy Forum that will be held on the 5-6 December. “The Forum is a valuable opportunity for Asia-Pacific countries to share experiences and best practice in building home-grown democracy and fostering ...
A package of new and expanded technology and other tools will encourage responsible camping and help communities and local councils better manage freedom camping this summer, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. “Our Government has been investing to improve the freedom camping experience for everyone because we want to support ...
The government is laying the groundwork to understanding our genes – work that can help us tackle some of our biggest health challenges, like heart disease and diabetes, says Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods. $4.7 million has been invested in the Genomics Aotearoa Rakeiora programme. The programme will ...
Nearly every state schools will receive a capital injection next year valued at $693 per student to bring forward urgent school property improvements, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. The one-off cash injection is the first project to be announced from the Government’s infrastructure package ...
The Government has decided to bring forward major investments in New Zealand’s infrastructure to future proof the economy. “Cabinet has agreed to a significant boost to infrastructure investment. I have directed the Treasury to help bring together a package of projects that can be brought into the Government’s short and ...
It is a great pleasure to be with you today in Whanganui. Like the Prime Minister I grew up with the TV clip of Selwyn Toogood booming “What do you say Whanganui, the money or the bag?” to an unsuspecting ‘It’s in the Bag’ audience. For those under the age ...
New Zealand’s newest Great Walk, the Paparoa Track, was officially opened in Blackball today by the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage alongside the family members of the Pike 29 and Ngāti Waewae. Local mayors and MP for the West Coast Hon Damien O’Connor were also in attendance. “Paparoa National Park ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark turned the first sod of earth on the infrastructure works for the new P-8A Poseidon fleet at RNZAF Base Ohakea today. “The Coalition Government’s investment in Ohakea will ensure the Royal New Zealand Air Force can manage, maintain and task the new fleet efficiently ahead ...
Civil Defence Minister Hon Peeni Henare today announced the establishment of the new National Emergency Management Agency from 1 December 2019. The National Emergency Management Agency will replace the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management. It will be an autonomous departmental agency, hosted by the Department of the Prime ...
Sustainable New Zealand Welcomes the Government’s Announcement on Phasing Out Waste But Wants to See More Action on Building and Construction Waste ...
Our Seas Our Future welcomes Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’s announcement that the Government is aiming to phase out another round of single-use hard plastics, made of PVC and Polystyrene. ...
The Fraudster exposes the life and crimes of a million dollar conwoman Award-winning investigative team Stuff Circuit’s latest documentary exposes the cautionary tale of a woman who ripped off New Zealand businesses and government agencies, and a justice ...
Press Release 8 December 2019 Auckland, 8 December 2019 : The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Professor Juliet Gerrard, presented the 262-page report on ‘Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand’ to the Prime Minister on Sunday ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Cabinet should make a policy decision tomorrow that Auckland’s car and container port must close by 31 December 2029, Waterfront 2029 Spokesperson Michael Goldwater said today. ...
In light of increasing public concern over the harmful effects of plastic pollution, the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Professor Juliet Gerrard, is presenting the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand report to the Prime Minister on Sunday ...
The government will start phasing out polystyrene packaging and beverage containers in response to a major new report calling for a nationwide rethink on plastics in New Zealand, PM Jacinda Ardern announced today. Here’s what you need to know about the announcement, and the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa report.For much ...
The Absolute Book is one of our picks of the year and you should buy it for someone you love for Christmas. A story that sticks like a biddi-bid, Elizabeth Knox said on Twitter the other day. Here, she writes about the books that stuck in her own psyche – ...
The government would argue it’s on track to reduce child poverty significantly by the next reporting round, and culture change is well underway at Work and Income. But change at WINZ is a slow-moving process. Pip Colgan is an advocate at Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP), which means she spends a ...
Frozen 2 is out, but more importantly the soundtrack is available for your kids to play on repeat. Sam Brooks ranks the songs by how likely it is that they’ll sing them into your face for the foreseeable future.Parents and caregivers, get your loins girded because Frozen 2 is here. The film ...
Five New Zealanders from across culturalspaces explain what it is they love about basketball.Historically, basketball has always held a relatively small but special in Aotearoa’s sporting landscape. The NBL was established in 1981, giving provinces the chance to duke it out for national supremacy. In 2002 the Tall Blacks ...
After 40 years at the frontline, the University of Otago's Professor Marie Crowe discusses her research on treatments beyond medicine to alleviate symptoms of mood disorders like bipolar and depression. ...
Everything you need to know about the suspension of buses in Auckland and the industrial action standoff that it springs from.What’s going on?Yesterday saw the cancellation of thousands of bus trips and a lot of people standing around at Auckland bus stops looking puzzled after services operated by NZ Bus ...
ASMS message to DHB Chairs and appointees The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) welcomes the District Health Board Chairs and board appointees announced by Health Minister David Clark. ...
Eight Queen’s Counsel have been appointed under a process that includes the new criterion of a commitment to improving access to justice, Attorney-General David Parker announced this week. The new criterion, he explained, ” … emphasises that excellence and leadership in the profession can be seen through a wider, community ...
“CEAC – University of Auckland asks ‘Can democracy survive’? Subject; Can democracy survive? https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2019/12/03/can-democracy-survive-.html Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre Incorporated (CEAC) Press release 8th December ...
The Minister of Health’s announcement to appoint a new chair to the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board has come as a surprise and with some disappointment, especially given he had personally asked me to stand again with his confidence to continue in ...
Hell’s bells it’s Gone By Lunchtime, with Annabelle Lee, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire shooting the breeze on Kris Faafoi, Jason Kerrison, Winston Peters, NZ First donations, a cannabis referendum, and the year to come.Just when you thought politics was tucking under the duvet for Christmas, along comes the guy ...
Tis the season for hangovers, so we convinced some of New Zealand’s most experienced consumers of food and/or drink (OK, Spinoff staff and a bunch of chefs/hospo people) to share their tried-and-true culinary remedies.A hangover is a very individual thing. For some, it manifests as a splitting headache and extreme ...
Before Britain’s Got Talent: Champions hits our screens tonight, let’s take a fond look back at some of the show’s weirdest and most wonderful acts.Place your hands on your Golden Buzzer, because Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions kicks off this weekend. Champions is BGT bigger and better than it’s been before, ...
Following the raging success of the 2018 non-goat ethical Christmas gift guide, here for you today – responsibly wrapped in reusable gift wrap – is the 2019 list of ethical, sustainable, socially conscious, or charitable gift ideas to satisfy all kinds of family members and budgets.Budget Category: ‘Can we pay ...
Lime brought e-scooters to Auckland and changed the way we travel in less than a year. Now, the council is replacing it and Wave with three new contenders. Josie Adams goes to the Lime warehouse to say goodbye to the original scooters.In a warehouse in Eden Terrace, almost a thousand ...
Analysis - The government's first crack at cannabis legislation runs into trouble, a foreign donations bill is rammed through Parliament and a select committee refuses to listen to former NZ First officeholders. ...
Dr Ben Jansen is Oceania's leading prescriber of cannabis medicines, and a co-founder of the Hemp Foundation.org.nz “I’d like to thank the Labour Party and Chris Woodney. Thanks to his policy remit at Labours national conference, and Labours full support, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Soong, Senior Lecturer in Teacher Education Practice, School of Education, University of South Australia Australian 15 year olds were around three and a half years behind their counterparts in China in maths, according to the OECD’s latest results for education systems ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitri Perrin, Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology More than a year ago, the world was shocked by Chinese biophysicist He Jiankui’s attempt to use CRISPR technology to modify human embryos and make them resistant to HIV, which led to the birth ...
Cabinet minister Kris Faafoi has apologised to the Prime Minister for his messages to Jason Kerrison regarding an immigration case, but will not lose his job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Meyrick, Professor of Creative Arts, Flinders University The decision to merge the Department of Communications and the Arts with Transport, Infrastructure and Regional development (dropping the “Arts” entirely) ends a year in which Australian politics has been deeply confused over its ...
A historic referendum on independence has been completed in Bougainville. Johnny Blades of RNZ was there. People in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville have voted in an historic independence referendum. The long-anticipated referendum is the ultimate provision of 2001’s Bougainville Peace Agreement, which followed a brutal, protracted ...
Dairy farmers had some Xmas cheer this week, as dairy giant Fonterra told them the forecast payout would be the fourth-highest-ever, at the mid-point of its farmgate milk price range. The $7.30kg/ms means the cash payout for the season will reach $11.2bn, a rise of about $400m from the earlier forecast. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Syme, PhD in Vertebrate Palaeontology, The University of Queensland When you find dinosaur skeletons, how can you tell how old the dinosaur was? Like, if the skeleton is from a child dinosaur or an adult dinosaur? – Henry, aged 8. ...
The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO) has had to clarify the law with Police and receive their reassurance that while the amnesty for ammunition was not extended to 20 December, Police will act as if it has been. ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 We Are Here: An Atlas of Aotearoa by Chris McDowall & Tim Denee (Massey University Press, $70)Superlative ...
This week a petition with more than 15,000 signatures was presented at parliament to Nicola Willis, MP and opposition spokesperson for Early Childhood Education. Also attending were Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick and Hon Nikki Kaye. ...
It’s that time of year again when, for the third year running, a new A Christmas Prince movie is released. Sam Brooks was in front of a TV screen for the latest instalment’s debut on Netflix last night, and here catalogues the many stupid, wild, and wildly stupid things he ...
One of the most highly rated members of Jacinda Ardern’s Cabinet is under pressure over assurances given in relation to an immigration case. How bad could it get, asks Toby Manhire.There has never been a New Zealand prime minister more engaged with contemporary homegrown music than Jacinda Ardern. She’s forever ...
Kris Faafoi, Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media; Minister ofCommerce and Consumer Affairs;Minister of Government Digital Services; Associate Minister forHousing; MP for Mana.The latest allegations of a corruption scandal involving a Cabinet minister suggests this government is far too loose when it comes to providing access to power ...
The National Party cannot credibly critique the Government’s hikes to fuel tax while it refuses to commit to reversing these hikes, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “Simon Bridges has lambasted ...
Newspaper staff were among those to express dismay and fury during the frenzy of denunciations that followed publication of an ill-considered cartoon about Samoa and the measles epidemic. The Spinoffrecorded their reactions under the heading ODT cartoonist infuriates his colleagues with Sāmoa measles epidemic ‘joke’. It also reproduced the ...
New Zealand Police Association condemns comments made by People Against Prisons Aotearoa following the fatal police shooting of an armed man who had made threats of suicide. ...
A new poem by Harry Ricketts. The Writing Life You want to write.You want to be published.You want to be read. You want to be a cult figure.You want to be reviewed.You want to write. You want to win prizes.You want to be anthologised.You want to be read. You want to be taught in schools ...
As Christmas is near, it’s time to set the record straight on some of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of employment law that apply to the festive season. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Kris Faafoi immigration case Fiona Connor and Tova O’Brien (Newshub): ‘I’m on it bro’: Messages show Kris Faafoi offering help to ...
The Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta has announced changes to prevent Māori wards being voted down by referendums are off the table, saying she believes such a change is not possible within the coalition. ...
It’s officially the festive season, and what does that mean? An office Secret Santa with a budget of $20 and you’ve picked your boss. Instead of settling for a bottle of average wine and a ribbon, follow our essential guide on what to get those unique workmates.At last year’s Secret ...
The shooting of a suicidal man in Southland shows that police armament is dangerous, says criminal justice group People Against Prisons Aotearoa. The shooting comes just over a month into the controversial trial of heavily armed police teams in 3 regions ...
The Prime Minister should deal urgently with reports Cabinet Minister Kris Faafoi offered to help a friend over an immigration case, National Party leader Simon Bridges says. ...
The families of top former All Blacks are likely to donate their loved ones’ brains to research so the effect of head impacts in sport can be studied. ...
A woman who went on a Tinder date with the man who murdered Grace Millane tells her story, and issues a warning to other women to trust their instincts when something doesn’t feel right.First published on Newshub.co.nzI went on a date with Grace Millane’s killer while her body lay in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gottfried Lechner, Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for Telecommunications Research, University of South Australia, University of South Australia Satellites are becoming increasingly important in our lives, as they help us meet a demand for more data, exchanged at higher speeds. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Terry Goldsworthy, Associate Professor in Criminology, Bond University According to the latest figures, homicides in Australia are at historic lows and compare well against international trends. So what do the trends tell us and why is the homicide rate in Australia declining? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture, The University of Queensland Welcome to the next article in our Designing Hospitals series, where we explore how architecture and design shape our hospitals and medical centres. Today, we look at what Indigenous people tell ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW The latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results are bad news for Australian students, parents, employers and policymakers. Pretty much everyone. Australian 15-year-olds are now below the OECD average in mathematics, and our results in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Clode, Senior Research Fellow in Creative Writing, Flinders University It is only mid-November but we have to walk early to avoid the heat. A northerly wind picks up clouds of dust and pollen, sending dirty billows across the paddocks. The long ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Changes coming to fuel market, anti-vaxxer arrested in Samoa, and banks told to hold more capital.New recommendations to increase competition in the fuel market have been made by the Commerce Commission, reports the NZ Herald. Their conclusion is that it isn’t competitive ...
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by ReadingRoom literary editor Steve Braunias. ...
An alliance of top researchers is trying to keep New Zealand ahead of complex health challenges from overuse of antibiotics, threats to freshwater quality and emerging infectious diseases. ...
The birthplace of the Labour Party is once again at the forefront of a new movement, this time harnessing the power of the collective to step away from coal towards a low carbon future.Blackball is a small place with a huge history. This week the town, 29 kilometres from Greymouth, ...
Willie on the unions 
The state of the United Kingdom is fractured, torn up, shredded. The Empire is gone, it died a long time ago. And yet, the country is still tracking with a lead in favour of the ones who play to the ingrained, class-bound division for political gain. It is a disgrace ...1 day ago
It should be obvious by now but let’s be clear: The same folk who regularly traffic in disinformation, misinformation and “fake news” are also those who most strongly claim that their freedom of expression rights are being violated when moves are made to curb hate speech (as opposed to protected ...1 day ago
Michael Schulson When Shane Burcaw flies on an airplane, he brings along a customized gel cushion, a car seat, and about 10 pieces of memory foam. The whole arsenal costs around $1,000, but for Burcaw it’s a necessity. The 27-year-old author and speaker — who, alongside his fiancée, Hannah ...2 days ago
We are very pleased to publish this submission is from Lucinda Stoan. She is a social justice activist, mother, and educator, based in Washington State in the US. This detailed and comprehensive source-linked overview of trans issues and what is at stake will be useful for many people, especially in ...2 days ago
Newshub last night reported that Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi had apparently promised to help out a mate with an immigration issue. While its normal for people to approach MPs for assistance in this area, when you're a Minister, the rules are different: as the Cabinet Manual says, Ministers must "at ...2 days ago
New Zealand's Underarm Banker: It bears recalling that the “independence” of the Reserve Bank Governor was for decades held up by neoliberal capitalists as the most compelling justification for passing the Reserve Bank Act. Interesting, is it not, how the ruling class’s support for the Bank’s independence lasted no longer than ...3 days ago
“Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. A long and bitter court feud between former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig and Jordan Williams has been settled, with an apology and compensation from Williams. On Tuesday, Craig sent out ...3 days ago
Some people seem to want to close down any critical discussion of the current research into the relationship between water fluoride and child IQ. They appear to argue that claims made by researchers should not be open to critical review and that the claims be accepted without proper consideration ...3 days ago
In an unreliable, strange and confusing world, Public Address is proud to present a measure of comfort and stability by annually asking everyone what words or phrases sum up the year that's been – and then giving some of them consumer goods as prizes for being clever or simply lucky.Well, ...4 days ago
While much of the NZ left has transitioned to postmodern and identity politics in relation to transgender ideology, there are some very good articles about that deploy Marxist methodology in relation to this subject. The one below is from the British marxist group Counterfire and appeared on their site here ...6 days ago
“America the Beautiful!”, staunch defender of democracy, freedom and… a whole lot of despotic tyrants that play nice with what is called “the Washington Consensus.” America is indeed capable of immense good, but like any Nation, and most assuredly any aspirant to the mantle of Empire, great, immense evil. All ...1 week ago
Image credit: The beginner’s guide to blogging I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is ... 1 week ago
It hasn't been a good week for the Conservatives, pollwise. All major recent polls are showing their lead shrinking.Comparing each pollster's current (between 29/11 and 22/11) and previous most recent poll.Com Res - Conservative lead down 3 points.You Gov - Conservative lead down 1 point.Kantar - Conservative lead down 4 ...1 week ago
Mark Patterson, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First spokesperson for Primary Industries, Mark Patterson, has called for awareness to be raised and more stringent biosecurity checks to be put in place for African Swine Fever (ASF), a widespread virus that is uncontrolled in most of Asia and a serious ...4 days ago
Live from the Whanganui Opera House, on the final day of the 2019 Labour Party Conference, Jacinda Ardern announced the largest investment in school property in 25 years. ...5 days ago
A medium-scale adverse event has been declared for the South Canterbury district, which will see up to $50,000 in funding made available to support farming communities which have been significantly affected by recent heavy rain and flooding in the area, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two weeks of solid rain ...9 hours ago
The House: Every other Wednesday at Parliament is a Members' Day and the legislation debated is proposed by MPs not in government. ...2 hours ago
Sustainable New Zealand Welcomes the Government’s Announcement on Phasing Out Waste But Wants to See More Action on Building and Construction Waste ...7 hours ago
The government will start phasing out polystyrene packaging and beverage containers in response to a major new report calling for a nationwide rethink on plastics in New Zealand, PM Jacinda Ardern announced today. Here’s what you need to know about the announcement, and the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa report.For much ...14 hours ago
After 40 years at the frontline, the University of Otago's Professor Marie Crowe discusses her research on treatments beyond medicine to alleviate symptoms of mood disorders like bipolar and depression. ...18 hours ago
Eight Queen’s Counsel have been appointed under a process that includes the new criterion of a commitment to improving access to justice, Attorney-General David Parker announced this week. The new criterion, he explained, ” … emphasises that excellence and leadership in the profession can be seen through a wider, community ...1 day ago
"The neighbour takes my hand and walks me over the concrete to my parent’s back door": a look inside Hell by Alisha Tyson. ...2 days ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Soong, Senior Lecturer in Teacher Education Practice, School of Education, University of South Australia Australian 15 year olds were around three and a half years behind their counterparts in China in maths, according to the OECD’s latest results for education systems ...2 days ago
Dairy farmers had some Xmas cheer this week, as dairy giant Fonterra told them the forecast payout would be the fourth-highest-ever, at the mid-point of its farmgate milk price range. The $7.30kg/ms means the cash payout for the season will reach $11.2bn, a rise of about $400m from the earlier forecast. ...2 days ago
The Government is investing up to $9 million in a project that it says will help Southland farmers use their land more sustainably. ...2 days ago
Donation legislation, the infinite monkey theory and the angriest man in NZ politics. Not to mention Paula Bennett's black-market oregano. ...2 days ago
You do not have to sacrifice short term returns in order to invest sustainably. ...3 days ago
Winston Peters says the NZ First foundation is similar to the National Party’s foundation. Here’s how it isn’t. ...3 days ago
The families of top former All Blacks are likely to donate their loved ones’ brains to research so the effect of head impacts in sport can be studied. ...3 days ago
The Finance Minister Grant Robertson won’t be drawn on how much new capital requirements for banks will hit consumers. ...3 days ago
Yet again, NZ schools have received a 'fail' when it comes to bullying but there could be an evidence-based solution. ...3 days ago
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by ReadingRoom literary editor Steve Braunias. ...3 days ago
An alliance of top researchers is trying to keep New Zealand ahead of complex health challenges from overuse of antibiotics, threats to freshwater quality and emerging infectious diseases. ...3 days ago
Sky Sport News presenter Kate King previews a massive weekend for Kiwi sportswomen ...3 days ago
A handy guide to all you need to know about impeachment. ...3 days ago
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.