Comments on: Super city problems pile up on eve of third bill

By: Phil Twyford

Phil Twyford — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:06:13 +0000

@ sammy – You are quite right. Sharples blatantly contravened the the confidence and supply agreement in the way that he disassociated himself from government policy in his portfolio area. Not the first time either. Point taken.

By: sammy

sammy — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:15:56 +0000

The relevant text:

“The M?ori Party agree to be bound by collective responsibility in relation to their Ministerial portfolios and their Associate Minister responsibilities. When the M?ori Party Ministers speak about issues within their portfolios and Associate Minister responsibilities, they will speak for the government and as part of the government, representing the government’s position in relation to these responsibilities.”

The question in the House was to the Minister of Maori Affairs. He can’t claim he was wearing a different hat.

By: sammy

sammy — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:03:23 +0000

Re- the discussion earlier about what Labour are doing on the general Super City issue.

Yes, I realize the MPs are working hard, and I appreciate that, but they also need to work smart. Is there nobody in the caucus who can think on their feet?

Just now, the Minister for Maori Affairs stood up and said he totally opposes government policy, IN HIS PORTFOLIO, on Maori seats. (Sorry to shout, but it seems you guys all missed it, probably because you’re so busy shouting yourselves).

Therefore, he must now resign. The “agree to disagree” provisions do not apply. But not one Labour MP was quick enough to spot this, and say so. Nobody got up and quoted the Confidence & Supply agreement, and asked Sharples if he stood by it. He would have been toast.

It is so disheartening to hear Gov’t MPs get away with this, largely because all year the Labour MPs have been allowing them to. When will you learn that this crowd (not just Sharples, but Bennett, Tolley, Brownlee etc) keep giving you gifts. All you have to do is shut up and LISTEN, then apply Forensic Questioning 101 – scalpel beats sledgehammer any day.

But you’d rather just make a lot of noise, instead. Maybe it makes the MPs feel good. It makes this Labour voter depressed. The targets are there to be hit, and the opposition keep missing.

New Year, new strategy, PLEASE.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:40:58 +0000

Gooner, abuse and vitriol? Any examples? Personally, I can take vitriol if it’s directed at pollys who lie through their capped teeth.

By: j abba

j abba — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:42:53 +0000

Jennifer .. 3 examples you raised are interesting. The 2 woman had agreed to be used as examples but when their full circumstances where revealed then their cause was lost. One of the 2 accepted that and then went on and gave a great idea which was taken on after a meeting with Ms Bennett.
Then guy with 2 homes was frugal with his real circumstances as well.
Andrew Williams is doing his cause no good by weird behaviour.
The Govt run school poilcy, not the Principals. I have the Stds argument with a work mate who is a former teacher and the husband of a Sth Ak Primary school teacher. She has stated that the stds are not an issue within themselves but Tolley will not front up to their meetings which is poor form.
The DBH and ACC boards have always been Govtmt appointments and Labour did just what the Nats have done. You must know that?
Re not toeing the line .. do you remember what happened to the Hawkes Bay Board last year?

By: Gooner

Gooner — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:56:11 +0000

Jennifer, if you believe Andrew Williams’ propaganda then that’s your problem.

There are a few mayors in Auckland, and many local body politicians, against the Super City as it stands. But they don’t resort to the abuse and vitriol that Williams does.

The only pattern is Williams’ pattern of personal attacks and abuse. That is evident from the last two years.

By: jarbury

jarbury — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:59:24 +0000

Good point Bomber, very very good point.

Phil, one rather ironic thing about this change making the bureaucracy more powerful and the elected councillors potentially less powerful is that, from my experience, your average council worker is more left-wing than your average voter. Councils are full of people with qualifications in environmental issues, planning and so forth – who generally are “left of centre” politically.

Whilst I do fret about the lack of accountability of the future “Auckland Transport” organisation, for example, I think that generally officials will probably have the right idea. Although it would certainly be nice if Auckland Transport had something of a say in terms of what NZTA and KiwiRail will be doing in Auckland – otherwise I don’t see how there’s a hope in hell of getting proper transport integration.

My general point is that giving officials more power might backfire on National/Act.

Final note: I do not work for a council.

By: Spud

Spud — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:32:02 +0000

LOL You forgot to add the e to the old dud.
I agree Williams won’t go quietly, can’t blame him really.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:19:44 +0000

Jabba, remember the solo mums who dared to raise their heads? The old tory ‘french revolution’ cut in, and off with their heads. Signal sent. Then there was the old dud who turned out to own a couple houses. Off with his head too. All quiet now. Execpt for Andrew Williams, of course. He will not ‘go quietly’. And, of course, there’e the DHB members and ACC board members, fired only to be replaced by tory lackies. And now Tolley says is elected school baords don;t toe the line, off with their heads. Like I said, there’s a pattern here.

By: Bomber

Bomber — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:21:04 +0000

Guys, seriously now – wtf are you doing? I aint seen jack in terms of co-operation on the left to a position re post 2011. If these buggers get in again, they will claim it as a privatization mandate and give Rodger Douglas his last 3rd wish. Isn’t it time to have an opposition hui? As in – everyone who opposes this agenda that National are preparing in the background – get together for a chat? Environmentalists, Human Rights activists, ACC rape survivors, Teachers, Lawyers, Drs, Nurses, Unions, Public Service, NGO’s, liberals, red, green, rainbow, alternative media, bloggers, thinkers, academics etc etc because there is a growing awareness in the wider public that the 35% of legislation time used to ram through bills into law under a misuse of urgency is producing some really bad law.

Despite the optimistic John Key smile the double dip recession and the environment are only going to get worse, not better and the left have to have a bloody good plan put together to stop National diluting our effort via the SuperCity election and MMP referendum.

And folks I don’t see it.