Written By: - Date published: 8:32 pm, June 25th, 2014 - 6 comments
Categories: you couldn't make this shit up
Tags: nz herald
The Herald needs to explain why they think they can print anti-democratic lies and get away with it.
Make them answer. Make a complaint.
Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, June 25th, 2014 - 17 comments
I’m a glass half-full kind of a guy, so I want to start by emphasising the parts of Labour’s just-released fiscal plan that I like. The good: commitment to paying off government debt during economic good times, tax rate changes are welcome, and targeting tax avoidance by large multinationals. Bad: the top tax rate is still too low, and no need to signal second term tax cuts. Overall I would give this package a B+.
Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, June 25th, 2014 - 85 comments
Labour has announced details of its alternative budget with the headline a change in the top tax rate to 36 cents in the dollar for the top 2% of taxpayers.
Written By: - Date published: 12:56 pm, June 25th, 2014 - 6 comments
Labour’s Fiscal Plan shows a clear and positive difference from National. Those who earn over over 150,000 will pay more tax and applying tax to trusts to combat tax avoidance, are welcome steps to reducing inequality and the unfairness of the tax system. It’s a relief to see more effort in stopping the billions of dollars of tax evasion. Labour’s commitment to funding the real costs of Health and Education, taking account of rising costs and the changing population, forces National to front up and say what it is going to do to prevent our public services from deteriorating further.
Written By: - Date published: 12:41 pm, June 25th, 2014 - 9 comments
On Monday, an alliance of environmental organisations launched the Climate Voter campaign. The aim is to get people to signal their intention to vote on the basis of climate change policy, in the hope of driving parties to compete for that bloc of support. I think this is a good thing. At the same time, it needs to get a lot more people to sign up for it to have the sort of impact it wants. These mass-signalling exercises can work. So, if you care about the climate, sign up.
Written By: - Date published: 12:19 pm, June 25th, 2014 - 106 comments
The Herald has now published details of a further statement from Donghua Liu which directly contradicts previous claims. So what did it do to ensure the accuracy of the original claims and why did it print those allegations without verification? And who is the mysterious person who prepared a statement that with the benefit of hindsight was clearly inaccurate?
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, June 25th, 2014 - 34 comments
I’ll be in Wellington from the 4th to the 7th for the Labour party congress on the 5-6th. I’ll be on a media pass again which will relieve me of the duties that I have usually had to undergo as a delegate, like having to think too much. This will be the first congress I have attended as media. I’m expecting to have a lazy time watching others work. If you’re around Wellington, come and see David Cunliffe’s speech on Sunday. He is promising a big speech about what he and Labour will be taking to the voters this year.
Written By: - Date published: 11:24 am, June 25th, 2014 - 98 comments
Nick Smith is proposing to introduce under urgency legislation which will allow the removal of felled trees from conservation areas on the West Coast. The sense of cynical politics involved in this measure is strong …
Written By: - Date published: 9:59 am, June 25th, 2014 - 107 comments
The underbelly of John Key’s “rockstar economy” is mostly kept in the shadows, but every so often more tales emerge from the growing numbers of homeless. Vote left & vote the bastards out, this election!
Written By: - Date published: 6:56 am, June 25th, 2014 - 137 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 2:46 pm, June 24th, 2014 - 81 comments
PM John Key has performed a backflip by now suggesting Donghua Liu should front up with evidence to support the NZ Herald’s unsubstantiated claim that he donated substantial sums to Labour. This is a world away from his previous position that it was up to Labour to show that no donation was made. It’s increasingly looking like it simply not true and the Herald has been played like a fiddle. And two, the fiddle planter is Cameron Slater, the PM’s bestie from way back.
Written By: - Date published: 11:53 am, June 24th, 2014 - 44 comments
When I first heard of this appointment, I commented that if McCully had offered Jones a briefcase full of cash rather than a specially-created high-paying job to resign, we’d call it what it is: Corruption and bribery of member of Parliament. From what I’ve seen in this release, I stand by that.
Updated: It looks like this appointment either violated the Cabinet Manual or is in violation of the State Sector Act. Whatever way you look at this, the appointment appears to broken some laws. Perhaps some journos would like to look up from bullshit from National’s dirty tricks blogger and care to investigate a real story?
Written By: - Date published: 11:41 am, June 24th, 2014 - 9 comments
John Key is abandoning hope of a TPP deal. As it stands at present there is nothing in it for New Zealand. Of course the usual ugly swamp that is US internal politics is making the deal descend into a mire.
Expect nothing to happen for another year or two, and maybe the damn thing will never happen.
Written By: - Date published: 10:32 am, June 24th, 2014 - 50 comments
Jan Logie’s post: “Work and Income – stories from hidden people” is a must read: stories from a divisive society, under a callous government that benefits the few at the expense of too many. We can do much better than that. Vote for change this election!
Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, June 24th, 2014 - 254 comments
The media seem to be mesmerized by John Key. He can start a media beat up by talking publicly about a rumour then get a sympathetic headline when stating that Donghua Liu should reveal his evidence, even though it was Key who made the claim publicly. Yet after a week of bad press for Labour over a claim for which there is no real proof Key’s role is not scrutinised and he seems to get away with it.
Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, June 24th, 2014 - 240 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 10:31 pm, June 23rd, 2014 - 36 comments
Before we get too carried away patting those Labour MPs on the back for withdrawing from the list process in order to ‘give way’ to fresh talent, someone should take a closer look at clause 356 of the Labour Party constitution.
Written By: - Date published: 6:25 pm, June 23rd, 2014 - 43 comments
In previous elections, the major parties have submitted lists heavily dominated by men, and this passes without comment. This year, Labour has submitted one with a slight imbalance (53:47) towards women. The reaction is sadly predictable. Misogynist reporting. Also incorrect, there is no gender rule. Not mentioned: Labour’s list is gender-balanced up to position 40; that slight imbalance comes from the bottom, unelectable end of the list and will not translate into caucus places.
Written By: - Date published: 2:08 pm, June 23rd, 2014 - 19 comments
Some things are so predicable that Imperator Fish can write about them years ahead. Like the typical reactions to the Labour list. Let us observe the predictability of the right and others to it today. Marks for any bit of originality, but don’t be surprised if there aren’t any.
Written By: - Date published: 2:06 pm, June 23rd, 2014 - 189 comments
The Labour list for 2014 has been announced.
Written By: - Date published: 1:30 pm, June 23rd, 2014 - 27 comments
This morning’s news from the Fairfax/Ipsos poll is that 81% of New Zealanders hate coat-tailing and want it gone. I agree with them. So does Labour. So do the Greens. So do Internet MANA. National, of course, relishes coat-tailing. So – to the 81% – if you want 2014 to be the last election with any coat-tailing, vote for a change of government. In the meantime of course, we have Crazy Colin Craig who thinks that Key’s job is to give just him a seat, entirely of his own accord, with no “insipid” discussions about the quid pro quo. Good luck with that.
Written By: - Date published: 9:08 am, June 23rd, 2014 - 34 comments
John Key claimed he didn’t know about the big shift in the US-NZ surveillance relationship in 2009. Now he claims he always likes to be fully briefed on intelligence matters. Robert David Steele points the way from such anti-democratic governance & misinformation, to an open source everything revolution.
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 23rd, 2014 - 8 comments
I had a conversation at our farmer’s market this morning about how my election campaign was going and the person I was speaking to had the view that all politicians don’t actually do much, apart from talking. I find that this thinking is actually fairly common, many people talk about the nonsense that goes on in Parliament and how all politicians are as bad as each other, “It doesn’t matter who you vote for, nothing really changes.” I find this view really frustrating, but at the same time I can see why people may feel this way.
Written By: - Date published: 6:55 am, June 23rd, 2014 - 282 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 5:12 pm, June 22nd, 2014 - 219 comments
Ok, so according to the NZ Herald Donhua Liu is alleging that a fund raiser was held on Sunday 3rd of June 2007.
That is the Sunday in the middle of Queens birthday weekend. To say that is hardly credible is an understatement. No-one schedules fund-raisers on Sunday. They certainly don’t do it in a long weekend. And can’t the journalists at the Herald read a calendar?
Updated: This mornings Herald story looks like being more about face saving than accuracy, and the interview on Morning Report make the journalistic process at the Herald look even more dodgy.
Written By: - Date published: 5:05 pm, June 22nd, 2014 - 24 comments
Scott Yorke makes some excellent arguments in favour of a full police investigation into the Liu saga.
Written By: - Date published: 3:18 pm, June 22nd, 2014 - 46 comments
In a speech today Colin Craig has confirmed that he will be standing in Murray McCully’s seat of East Coast Bays.
Written By: - Date published: 2:55 pm, June 22nd, 2014 - 45 comments
The Whaleoil blog is in court on Monday. There is a full day session in the High Court in Auckland looking at the appeal by Cameron Slater against Judge Blackie’s decision in the District Court that the blog is not a news medium. Therefore Slater was not a journalist, and was therefore not able to protect his sources who provided stolen material to allow him to apparently defame Matthew Blomfield. The decision will probably provide case law about the status of blogs in the law and the responsibilities of news mediums.
Written By: - Date published: 2:20 pm, June 22nd, 2014 - 112 comments
I’ve been around the Labour party campaigners for a long time. I’d have expected to hear of auction sales of near to $100,000 by rumour if nothing else. It is possible that I didn’t. But then so is time travel. Quite simply the NZ Heralds reporting of Liu’s letter without any corroboration or details about where and when isn’t what I expect from journalists. It is what I expect from Whaleoil – a simple smear. I hadn’t realised that the Herald was that desperate.
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 22nd, 2014 - 322 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 9:40 pm, June 21st, 2014 - 7 comments
Bryan Gould writes on this in the latest post on the AUT Briefing Papers website. Gould quotes from Senator Elizabeth Warren’s classic speech “Nobody got rich on their own. Nobody.” Gould’s conclusion – A renewed debate about the purpose of government is well overdue – amen to that.
On Monday, Matthew Hooton made an interesting statement on Radio NZ’s Nine to Noon weekly political punditry segment. Mr Hooton noted that National were expecting that an electorate deal with Colin Craig would cost National 2% to 3% of the party vote. To make the...
So, Donghua Liu has clarified some questions regarding his 2007 donations to Labour. Apparently, the “close to $100,000″ that the NZ Herald was reporting had been spent on a bottle of wine was in fact the total amount of donations....
There is now overwhelming scientific evidence showing systemic pesticides, primarily the neonicotinoids, have a serious adverse effect on bee colonies, with many studies pointing towards the conclusion that these pesticides are behind the rise of colony collapse disorder.One recent study...
Donghua Liu isn't the only person with a story to tell about missing donations to the Labour Party....
Today EEO Commissioner Dr. Jacqui Blue joined previous commissioners in calling on all political parties to set targets to close gender and ethnic pay gaps. In the past two years there has been no change in the public sector gender...
While many people are aware of the Grafton Gully cycle route that is currently under construction, and the connecting Beach Road route that will soon start, another major cycleway project is currently progressing at good pace. This is the Waterfront Promenade, which...
I promised an open thread, so here’s one to hold all your latest thoughts and wisdom. What’s it to be? Wind power, silly “solar models” built on notch filters and fudge factors, or the abysmal climate politics afflicting our friends...
The Donghua Liu saga has just got even more dangerous for the John "drop the insinuation then duck" Key as The Herald is forced to publish an altered statement from Mr Liu that changes much of his original statement.It now...
After September 11 2001, the US government created a "no fly" list of alleged terrorists who were not allowed to fly within or to the United States. The list now has tens of thousands of names on it, and has...
We all suffer more or less from confirmation bias – it is just human. So it’s natural for people to be selective, and to indulge in some cherry-picking and biased interpretation, when quoting scientific literature to support an idea they promote. In the...
On Monday, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague joined the world in condemning the Egyptian regimes jailing of journalists for terrorism. That very day, British police were threatening to jail a journalist in Sheffield for terrorism:A reporter was threatened with arrest...
The Public Address Great Blend is back! And, as was the case last year in Wellington, we're staging it alongside Internet NZ's annual NetHui conference.This year's Great Blend takes place on the evening of Thursday, July 10, at the Montecristo...
The Government has a strategy to avoid protecting the environment, especially land set aside for its conservation values. It’s called “net conservation benefit” and the poster child of this disingenuous piece of spin is the Bathurst Resources agreement with DOC...
I'm a glass half-full kind of a guy, so I want to start by emphasising the parts of Labour's just-released fiscal plan that I like. First, the commitment to paying off government debt during economic good times is laudable. In...
If you happened to watch parliaments question time yesterday, you would have seen a particularly arrogant display of bravado from our Prime Minister, John Key. Not satisfied with just calling the potential extinction of the Maui's dolphin a "load of...
Labour released its fiscal policy today. The headline policies? Paying down debt faster than National, and a top tax bracket of 36% on those earning over $150,000. But before everyone starts praising Labour for "restoring progressivity to the tax system",...
This is another post from Peter who you can see we’ve now allowed to post directly [ Matt] I recently started a new job in Takapuna. Unfortunately, it’s just far enough away from my home on the isthmus to be...
Labour’s Fiscal Plan shows a clear and positive difference from National.“Those who earn over over 150,000 will pay more tax and applying tax to trusts to combat tax avoidance, are welcome steps to reducing inequality and the unfairness of the...
Coming soon from Victoria University Press. Filed under: Books, From Our Files, History...
Today is a Member's Day, and hopefully one where we'll see some action. There's a private bill first up - Christchurch's Arts Centre needs to rework its trust arrangements after the earthquakes - followed by the committee stage of Cam...
Further to my earlier post on the complete fiasco with the new Donghua Liu statement this morning. Here's the Herald's take on the new revelations that all Liu's earlier statements were entirely inaccurate, and that he is counting money spent...
The Internet Party released its copyright policy today, requiring a first principles review of the Copyright Act 1994 and a host of changes, including legal protection for circumventing geoblocking, broader fair use exceptions (including parody and satire), effectively gutting the...
This morning the Herald has an article about a further statement from Donghua Liu about alleged donations to Labour. It is massively different from earlier claims, raising huge doubt about his credibility. And he has still provided no evidence at...
Jared Savage at the Herald reports: Controversial businessman Donghua Liu has issued a new statement to the Herald confirming “close to” $100,000 in total payments to Labour and its MPs – including anonymous donations – but clarifying that the money...
Some political anoraks may have seen the hot news from Hamilton today about labour's 2008 website: www . labour08 . co . nz If you haven't, the gist is: Sue Moroney recycled some 2008 election hoardings for early use in...
Top of the AgendaKerry Urges Inclusive Iraqi Government...
Last week the fantastic ‘All Right?’ campaign in Christchurch released results of their ‘Are we all right?’ project – their latest research into how Cantabrians are doing. The ‘All Right?’ campaign is a brilliant local initiative that reminds us to...
New Zealand’s top undergraduate students – across many, many different fields – are right up there with the best in the world. If they want to pursue their education beyond, say, Honours, where should they go? I am worried that...
According to John Key, solar PV systems “never pay for themselves, let alone reduce energy bills, or make money”. That was his response when we launched our Solar Homes policy earlier this year. Well, Peria School in the far North...
In their ongoing quest to prove that Donghua Liu publicly purchased a bottle of wine for $100,000 that nobody can remember him buying, the Herald / Farrar / Slater have come up rather short. So naturally they’re declaring victory anyway....
. . In case anyone finds it hard to believe that some in the msm (mainstream media) are politically partisan, the screen-shot below – of a recent NZ Herald story – should help dispel such doubts; . . Notice the...
. . In case anyone finds it hard to believe that some in the msm (mainstream media) are politically partisan, the screen-shot below – of a recent NZ Herald story – should help dispel such doubts; . . Notice the...
. . Let’s cast the net and see what rotten garbage we dredge up. No doubt a request like the ones below may result in two things; Furrowed brows in the Prime Minister’s Department, as Jason Ede and other National...
. . Let’s cast the net and see what rotten garbage we dredge up. No doubt a request like the ones below may result in two things; Furrowed brows in the Prime Minister’s Department, as Jason Ede and other National...
Unitec’s submission on the Proposed Unitary Plan outlines a pretty radical change to their Mt Albert campus, downsizing the actual educational campus from 53 hectares to around 10 and developing a major residential and commercial area on the rest of...
Press Release – iPredict Support for NZ First increases Winston Peters forecast to hold balance of power and back National National able to govern without NZ First if Conservatives win an electorate 2017 election race narrows Ruth Dyson now in...
Public Service Association national secretary Brenda Pilott ends 10 years at the helm this Friday. Having worked on innumerable...
As a Labour Party member, I'm becoming increasingly confused about the party's position on the Maui's Dolphin. Are we for them, or do we want them all dead?...
Press Release – Mana Party Hone Harawira, MANA Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau Tuesday 24 June 2014 When John Key says New Zealand fully supports the current steps announced by President Obama (in Iraq) 100% he is one...
This Blog's devoted, first and foremost, to public opinion. Specifically, Opinion Poll analysis and the geography of the vote. But just now and then I'll indulge myself. This happens to be one of those occasions.Hoping to make a few side-trips to the following places...
This site is surely a prime candidate for development sitting right next to the Grafton Station and just across the road from the new Auckland University campus currently under construction. In addition it is also passed by all the buses...
A proxy in the war between Qatar and Saudi Arabia...
Who could disagree with the objectives of a lobby group like the Coalition for Better Broadcasting?--In 2013, some of the people behind Save RNZ and Save TVNZ 7 joined together, along with media, legal and government-relations experts, to form the Coalition for Better Broadcasting Trust....
On Monday, an alliance of environmental organisations launched the Climate Voter campaign. The aim is to get people to signal their intention to vote on the basis of climate change policy, in the hope of driving parties to compete for...
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The Southland Times published an excellent editorial last week in support of our estuaries:"Breathing estuaries aren't nice-to-have things. More than just an indicator of how we're doing environmentally they're really important ecosystems in themselves. Ask the fishing industry."We seriously need...
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What is the election going to be about? The froth and bubble of donations? Not very likely. The competence of the main players will undoubtedly feature. Or perhaps Bill Clinton's 1992 classic slogan "it's the economy stupid" will again prove...
I've had a couple of people email suggesting that the Poll of Polls could include a comparison of the two putative blocs competing in the election. They are: Status quo: National, ACT, UnitedFuture, Maori Party, Conservatives Change: Labour, Greens, New...
In my earlier post on the Jones appointment, I noted the lack of any formal advice. There were no briefings, no policy development documents, no cabinet papers, no advice to the Governor-General to make the appointment, not even a formal...
The current state of the Police road fleet is further evidence of how budget cuts are having an impact on frontline policing, Labour’s Police spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says. Material released under the Official Information Act shows 71 police vehicles...
Labour is calling on the Government to recognise our cultural and linguistically diverse communities in its new national civil emergency management plan, Labour’s Associate Ethnic Affairs spokesperson Raymond Huo says. “New Zealand has a vibrant multicultural dimension that we should...
Labour is backing a call by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner for the Government to set targets to close the gender pay gap in the public sector. “Jackie Blue’s call comes hot on the heels of a recent Ministry of...
John Key should stop playing politics with the issue of harvesting windfall timber on the West Coast and give time for a responsible consideration of legislation, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says. “I have written to John Key to tell him...
A Labour Government will run surpluses while investing in health and education, and paying off National's record debt, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says. “Our Economic Upgrade will transform the New Zealand economy to higher value and higher incomes through higher...
“When John Key says ‘New Zealand fully supports the current steps announced by President Obama (in Iraq) 100%’ he is one step away from committing our troops simply to get a good trade deal with the USA,” said MANA Leader...
New Zealand needs more initiatives aimed at reducing our prison population, Green Party justice spokesperson David Clendon said today.Today JustSpeak a non-partisan network wanting to change New Zealand's criminal justice system released a report on how they consider New Zealand's...
Bill English’s narrow and selective focus on a small subset of inequality statistics is fooling no-one, Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker says. “Bill English is yet again trying to hoodwink New Zealanders by claiming inequality is not growing. New Zealand...
Conservation Minister Nick Smith misled Parliament with his statement that not a single Maui's dolphin has been sighted inside an area opened up by the Government for oil drilling, the Green Party said today. "Conservation Minister Nick Smith is not...
Mangere MP Su’a William Sio is calling for calm and patience following this morning’s alleged stabbing at Pacific Christian School. “Our first thoughts are with the victim and with the children and their parents. “The school will need support and...
Another key spot for me to meet people is Auckland Airport, on my way back from parliament to either go to Waitakere or the North Shore, or to catch link flights to Whangarei, Kerikeri, or Kaitaia on constituency business. Every...
1 David Cunliffe 2 David Parker 3 Grant Robertson 4 Annette King 5 Jacinda Ardern 6 Nanaia Mahuta...
John Key and the National Party must come clean now over their coat-tailing intentions for the upcoming election, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says. “The Prime Minister needs to rule out right doing deals or standing aside in Epsom, Ōhariu and...
The next Labour government will ensure the future of the Capital Connection by funding it on a similar basis to other commuter rail services, say Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Phil Twyford and Labour’s MP for Palmerston North Iain Lees-Galloway....
A Labour government will ensure that all owners of red-zoned properties in Canterbury receive a buy-out offer of 100% of the 2007 rateable value of their land, says Labour’s Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Spokesperson Ruth Dyson. “A 100% buy-out offer is...
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John Key should not be making up foreign policy on the hoof and pledging support for possible unilateral action by the United States in Iraq, the Green Party said today.In New York earlier this week, New Zealand Foreign Minister McCully...
A 13.1 percent surge in Auckland rail patronage in the year to May shows the Government needs to start on the Auckland City Rail Link immediately, the Green Party said today."The Government has set arbitrary and unachievable targets as its...
New Zealanders believe Edward Snowden ahead of John Key when it comes to the US spying on us, the Green Party said today.John Key has previously downplayed New Zealanders concerns that the US National Security Agency (NSA) has been involved...
New Zealand's wild conservation land should be protected from logging, the Green Party said today. National has announced plans to allow logging of native forest on public land on the West Coast damaged in Cyclone Ita. "It is illegal to...
Labour is backing calls from the country’s medical students to lift a government-imposed seven year study cap. “Medical students are being stopped in their tracks by National’s limit on student support, Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Maryan Street says. “The government...
The electricity market is broken and not delivering to Kiwis, said Labour’s Energy Spokesperson, David Shearer. “The latest government figures show that demand for electricity is the lowest it’s been since 2009. Yet in that time prices have risen 19%...
The true costs of the Government's asset sales are over $640 million, more than five times the $120.6 million National is claiming today, Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said."The Government is being extremely tricky when it says Treasury's cost for...
John Key needs to tell the public why New Zealand is currently involved in a trade deal to benefit Wall Street at the expense of Queen Street, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.The text of a 19-page, international...
Today’s claim by the Government that the cost of the asset sales programme was $120 million is just a lie, says Labour’s SOEs spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. “The Government and Treasury need to be straight up with the taxpayer on the costs...
Labour congratulates Dame Silvia Cartwright on her appointment to the United Nations Human Rights Council investigation into war crimes and human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. “Her reputation is second to none and we are delighted she will be contributing...
Last night’s celebration of the 2013/2014 recipients Ngarimu VC and 28th Maori Battalion was a reminder to all who attended the importance of nurturing our future leaders, but also remembering those who laid the foundations for us today to celebrate...
Mana Movement leader Hone Harawira and Mana supporters will be standing alongside the Mangere community this Saturday as it protests the decision of the Auckland District Licensing Committee to grant yet another licence to sell cheap booze in the area....
Mana candidate for Waiariki Annette Sykes kicks off her Waiariki Bus Tour of her electorate this Saturday 21 June in Tauranga with her campaign team and volunteers. “I’m looking forward to getting out and about in my electorate this coming...
“When I invited applications for a Press Officer on Facebook, it drew such a lot of attention it even made the Dominion Post!” said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP, Hone Harawira. “But when I said ‘no prima donna’s please;...
Today’s poll is a great start for Internet MANA” says Annette Sykes, MANA President, “and we’re looking forward to that support building over the coming months.” The poll showed 2.1% support for Internet MANA which would give the newly formed...
The announcement of the Internet Party’s candidates list today gets the full backing from Hone Harawira, MANA Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau. “This announcement is great news for Internet MANA” said Hone Harawira. “We’ve already chosen our first...
Allowing opencast mining at Denniston is another example of short-sighted environmental vandalism from National, the Green Party said today. Late yesterday the Government issued an Authority to Enter and Operate (AEO) to Australia's Bathurst Resources Ltd, for its planned opencast...
Forcing police to pull resources from one area to cover for shortfalls in another is the inevitable consequence of the Government’s $40 million funding cut, Labour’s Police spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says. Police confirmed today that drug squads in four districts...
New Zealand households facing increasing costs from rising interest rates and stagnant wage growth are not getting their fair share of economic growth, Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said today. Figures released today by Statistics New Zealand show that Gross...
Despite his own claims that Ministers should not be involved in state sector pay rounds, Steven Joyce was so closely involved in discussions at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment that negotiations were adjourned to seek his approval, Labour’s Economic...
The Key Government has been able to sell our assets, make life worse for New Zealand workers, and weaken our environmental laws due to John Banks' sole, discredited vote, Green Party open government spokesperson Holly Walker said today.During the current...
The Green Party has welcomed the Environment Protection Agency's (EPA) decision not to allow massive seabed mining in the habitat of the world's most endangered dolphin - the Maui's Dolphin - and close to a blue whale breeding ground.The proposal...
The overheated Auckland housing market and the Reserve Bank’s response to lift interest rates are causing massive damage to our provinces, Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker says. “Leading economist Shamubeel Eaqub has called the latest rise in the official cash...
National has admitted it has no ambition, no ideas and no hope for low income Kiwis wanting a nest egg in their retirement, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says. “Finance Minister Bill English revealed all when crying crocodile tears over Labour’s...
The situation for New Zealand's highly endangered Maui's dolphin is dire, and the Government is making it worse by opening up more of their habitat to petroleum exploration and drilling, the Green Party said today.The Green Party obtained documents under...
Anything that puts our kids at the forefront will always get the big tick from me” said Hone Harawira, MANA Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau when speaking about the Tick For Kids campaign to put children at the...
The Education and Science Committee’s report on the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) made an important point about how TEC is having to cope with ongoing cuts to tertiary sector funding, rather than manage a stronger budget for the sector. And...
There is no excuse for Paula Bennett’s continued refusal to commit to working across parties to stop domestic violence and child abuse, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Sue Moroney says. “Ms Bennett confirmed this afternoon that she won’t be pursuing a...
If I’m ever down doing constituency work in either Waitakere or on the North Shore on the weekends, I always pop into either the Otara or the Avondale flea markets to get a feel for how the community is rolling...
“A foreign multi-national has been given the green light to explore and drill for oil and gas off the West Coast of Northland, without adequate safety regulations, without any requirement for consultation and without any jobs for the local population”,...
Tick for Kids, a campaign to encourage political parties to put children at the centre of their decision-making, has the full backing of the Labour Party which has pledged to do exactly that, its Children’s spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says. “As...
Click here for all the details....
A Labour government will ensure all New Zealanders have a long-term nest egg and help them grow their KiwiSaver pool by an average of $150,000, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says. “Today I am outlining how Labour’s universal KiwiSaver policy will...
The flawed inquiry into the leak of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs report last year is leading to more questions for State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie and its author Paula Rebstock, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Maryan Street says. “The involvement...
Ummmmmmmm? What the hell? The latest hate crime against our privacy that is being exposed is a corporate entity called Hacking Team that help Police use existing communications systems to hack in and spy on those the Police are hunting...
You would think days after all guiltily being manipulated into running National’s manufactured Donghua Liu smear the media would maybe pause before creating their next over hyped story. Apparently not. Breathless posturing by the media insinuating that Labour somehow want...
I’m not sure if anyone else is counting, but the new clarifications that Mr Donghua Liu has made to the Herald from his 6 week old non-legal signed statement now suggest that there were 7 falsehoods. Let’s count them shall we?...
MIL OSI – Source: Unite Union – Headline: Extra benefits received by many Unite members Unite Union tries to negotiate additional benefits for members that can’t be passed on to non-members. It is one of the very irritating thing about...
MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party – Headline: Dealing with pay equity too hard for Government Labour is backing a call by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner for the Government to set targets to close the gender pay gap in...
MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party – Headline: John Key – Stop playing politics with West Coast windfall timber John Key should stop playing politics with the issue of harvesting windfall timber on the West Coast and give time for...
MIL OSI – Source: CTU – Headline: Labour's financial plan will make life fairer for working Kiwis Labour’s Fiscal Plan shows a clear and positive difference from National. “Those who earn over over 150,000 will pay more tax and applying...
MIL OSI – Source: Mana Movement – Headline: Support for USA in Iraq “not a deal to die for” – Harawira Posted on June 25, 2014 by admin in Hone Harawira, Press Releases“When John Key says ‘New Zealand fully supports...
MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party – Headline: Labour’s alternative Budget for a strong economy and fair society A Labour Government will run surpluses while investing in health and education, and paying off National’s record debt, Labour Leader David Cunliffe...
Oh dear, this is going to be difficult to explain, so it turns out that the $100 000 wine and $15 000 book do not in fact exist… Controversial businessman Donghua Liu has issued a new statement to the Herald...
Why do National hate dolphins so much?...
MIL OSI – Source: Green Party – Headline: NZ needs more crime prevention not more prisons Tuesday, 24 Jun 2014 | Press Release New Zealand needs more initiatives aimed at reducing our prison population, Green Party justice spokesperson David Clendon...
We’ve almost come to expect the Government’s dismissal of good science, ever since our Prime Minister denied the evidence presented by Dr Mike Joy about the state of our rivers, on BBC’s Hard Talk TV programme. The Government denies all...
Every week we come across bosses arguing that that “can’t afford” a pay rise for their workers. Right wing economists and commentators also argue against an increase in the minimum wage because it will only lead to a rise in...
. . Continued from: The Donghua Liu timeline – Damn lies, dirty tricks, and a docile media . 1. Preface . On 23 June, I described a sequence of events relating to business migrant, Donghua Liu, which culminated in the...
The Court is arranged in preparation for the unspeakable sadness of victims reading their Victim Impact Statements. The barrier between the public gallery and the body of the court has three boxes of tissues, placed equidistant along the top rail....
It is testament to the strength of the NZIFF that last night’s opening night was packed tight. Every year it grows in popularity as Aucklanders embrace the festival with gusto. This years beautiful, exciting and impressive cinema is a mouthwatering...
MIL OSI – Source: Unite Union – Headline: Let’s go on the Attack! By Joe Carolan, Unite Union Organiser and Mana Movement candidate Unite organiser Joe Carolan with microphone If we want to bring John Key’s government down, its time...
MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party – Headline: English fooling no-one on inequality Bill English’s narrow and selective focus on a small subset of inequality statistics is fooling no-one, Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker says. “Bill English is yet again...
MIL OSI – Source: Green Party – Headline: National Minister misleads Parliament over Maui's Tuesday, 24 Jun 2014 | Press Release While the International Whaling Commission is calling for even greater protections for Maui’s dolphins, this National Government is putting...
MIL OSI – Source: Unite Union – Headline: Sick Leave vs Performance Unite Union Call Centre Organiser Shanna Reeder took a call recently from a Unite Union member upset that she had been giving a bad performance review leading to...
MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party – Headline: Call for calm after school incident Mangere MP Su’a William Sio is calling for calm and patience following this morning’s alleged stabbing at Pacific Christian School. “Our first thoughts are with the...
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