In 2011, Red Alert will do a few new things. One of them is to introduce you to some confirmed Labour electorate candidates who will do the occasional guest post.
This will give them the opportunity to put forward some ideas and you the opportunity to get a sense of who they are before the upcoming election.
Today’s guest poster is David Clark, the confirmed candidate for Dunedin North.
I’m convinced that Dunedin is quite possibly the best little city in the world.
And in many ways, Dunedin is a microcosm of the New Zealand I love. Dunedin has big-city culture and a small-town friendly feel. It has quality amenities common in larger centres: film festivals, a lively arts scene, and coffee. And it has village charm: low crime-rates, a palpable lack of hubris and ‘Hi, how are ya?’ as you walk down the main street. It’s a city of learning surrounded by natural beauty.
And the things that make New Zealand great – our fantastic natural endowment, a fair and interesting society, and productive innovative businesses – must be preserved.
We’d like the egalitarian ethos, the easy-going feel, and a love of learning, to be givens. Yet increasing disparities in wealth and opportunity threaten these things.
My values are core Labour values. I believe in equal access to high-quality public services. Quality education and healthcare should be available to all – regardless of wealth or status. Innovation should be encouraged and wealth should be shared.
Thankfully I’ll be working with a Labour team that is presenting a vision of a better New Zealand. Perhaps one that’s a wee bit more like Dunedin.
Happy 2011 to all Red Alert readers.
David Clark is a former Ironman, has worked in factories and shops, has a PhD from Otago University, has spent time at the Treasury and served as a Presbyterian Minister. David has a young family and is Deputy Chair of the Otago Community Trust. He also runs a student hall of residence.
David was selected in September as the Labour candidate to contest the Dunedin North electorate seat in 2011. For a more detailed biography visit here
Great to see your post David. You are a huge asset to the election campaign this year for Labour’s efforts to create a more fair and equitable NZ for all. Best wishes for 2011.
Shame the link to the Biography is not working. Is David part of the new Generation of Labour candidates that does not have a union back ground, is not a teacher of some descritption, has run his own business?
Having been appointed to a safe Labour seat, I would like to see if Davd is preparesd to stand up and say what Labour should do that is different to the reactionary knee jerk policies that Labour typically puts forward.
Because Labour are going to be in opposition for the next 6 years what will David do from the opposition benches to help Labour win in 2017?
@Monty. I’ve done a bunch of things including contracting to provide services. I have not worked for schools or unions.
That said, I reject your view that teachers or union workers are somehow deficient. Generally they are skilled folk that are willing to work for relatively low wages because they want to make the world a better place.
Correct link to my bio is: http://www.davidclark.org.nz/about-david/
What year did you do Ironman? 2005? If that is your results you bet Tony Abbotts time from last year…
Aww Monty
Why do you denigrate a group of people who you do not even know. So what if there are trade unionists amongst the ranks of current Labour MPs, after all it is the Labour Party! And teachers perform possibly the most important job that we have in the community.
There is also this denigration of “intellectuals” being in politics. In my experience these intellectuals tend to have a better understanding of issues and more to contribute than any business type.
David Clark will be an exceptionally good addition to the Labour Whanau and will add further depth to the caucus.
No David – teachers and union officials are not low paid. Go to n provincial town or city and the teachers are probably in the top 5-10% income earners in that community. $70,000 in Woodville , or Stratford, or Invercargill is very good money.
I am pleased that this is not your background because Labour is disproportionality over represented by the teacher and union movement. They desperately need new blood and a change of direction if they are ever to win the treasury benches again.
Making the world a better place comes about from jobs in growth industries. While teachers are important for education of our children, the reality is that capitalism makes the world a better place not socialism.
@Monty, the growing gap between rich and poor is not making New Zealand a better place.
In praise of teachers…
http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2010/12/taylor-mali-in-praise-of-teachers/
We have had some good union leaders who became PM , Norm Kirk, Peter Fraser.
And there were those who were school teachers like Bill Rowling and Jenny Shipley.
Apart from lawyers, National has had only two other PMs who were professionally qualified, as accountants.
Are you anti- qualifications Monty, because you dont have any ?
Thanks for pointing out how poorly paid everyone else is in those rural areas Monty, and the shortage of decent wages in innovative private industries in these areas that National has no idea how to grow.
Please David spare me your tears. I get sick to death of the pathetic “rich getting richer / Poor getting poorer / gap between rich and poor getting wider arguements put forward by the left. It is a pathetic arguement and is nothing but a cliche. It is the politics of envy and small mindedness. It is a hang-over for the Clark era.
1. Under the Clark Government the gap grew like never before. So much so that young people in reasonable jobs wll struggle like never before to purchase their first home.
2. Already the top 10% of earners pay 75% of the tax. How much more should the top 10% pay. 80%? 90%? of course doing that will kill the golden goose by forcing those contributing the most to move over seas – do you want that?
3. In some ways the rich cannot hlp but get richer. If I had $1000 and invested it in 12 months I would have say $1,050 – but if I had $100,000 and invested it in 12 months I would have $105,000. The gap had widened in this case by $4500. Pray tell me how you would stop that happening? or don’t be so pathetic by whinging about the gap. What do you want the socalist utopia of North Korea?
GWW – my issue is not against school teachers becoming MPs – it is about balance in the Labour Party Caucas. Labour up until the 2008 election had a massive over-representation of school teachers, unionist and academics. This brought a particular perspective which got so far out of touch that your party was well and truly evicted in 2008. The current low polling shows Labour really need to do something about the diversity of talent if they are ever to have a chance of winning an election. At present your chances of winning are nearly zero.
Viper – so are you admitting the teachers are well paid – hell that will probably mean eviction from the Labour Party – for disagreeing with one of their Lap-dog unions?
I think a lot of people are poorly paid – all over the place – but then again I think people should only be paid according to the demand for their skill set and their skills and economic contribution. I think there should be no minimum wage – but rather let the market decide the appropriate pay rate for a job (supply vs demand)
Haha are you admitting that National have no idea how to lift wages in the private sector?
Hell that will probably mean eviction from the Right Wing of politics.
No, wait, National is actually doing its job suppressing wages in the private sector – and you are supporting them.
As you were, Monty.
You’re right. And Australia recognises that, unlike you or this National Government, and therefore values and rewards skilled NZ workers with good pay and conditions.
Get used to it.
Because the many in NZ are not just sick of it too, they are living it. The Battle of 2011 is on.
Capital gains tax with returns distributed back into the community and social/economic infrastructure for all.
Its not rocket science mate.
Don’t make me laugh, young people had jobs and training opportunities under Labour, not like under Bill and John = Youth Unemployment at 20%.
Monty you forget the most destructive teacher in NZ politics is in your party.
@Monty – plenty of emotive language but scant regard for evidence in your ‘pathetic’ and ‘tear’-based response. I’m keen to debate but would prefer to do it on the basis of facts rather than slogans.
To address your points in turn:
“1. Under the Clark Government the gap grew like never before.”
Monty, this is simply not true.
The Clark Government is the only Government in the last three decades that didn’t grow that gap. See for example: http://www.nzchildren.co.nz/income_inequality.php#Footnote_4
2. Please read the post I linked to the article at “threaten these things”. It explains why growing the gap drives talent away rather than bringing it back.
3. the point is to avoid policies that accentuate this trend. Many of our forebears came to this country to create a classless society. If we’re going to grow our economy we need to reward talent, not being born with a silver spoon in your mouth. But maybe you disagree?
David looks like a great addition to Labour, all the best for 2011!!
Viper – you are so selective and one eyed you are a joke.
Viper @12:16 – Wages will increase through increased productivity – increased demand – at present we are in the midst of a economic slump – and NZ Struggles because Cullen drove the tradeables sector of the eonomy into recession in 2005 due to his inept mis-management.
Viper at 12:17 – the battle for 2011 election is already lost for Labour and also 2014. Try again in 2017 after massive clean-out in 2011.
Viper @12:19 – under that model the rich still get richer – but what you suggst will slaughter the golden goose – typical leftist envy. Wealth is good. Wealth is generated by capitalism. There capitalism is also good.
Viper @ 12:20 The low to middle income earners will still struggle to purchase a house thanks to Clarks policies – Under Labour the values of my properties increased massively – great for me – but it makes life so hard for the next generation. Youth unemployment has increased because Labour priced the youth out of the market. Stupid Labour. Problem now is Key knows it is politically untenable to reverse the legislation (wimp)
Tracey @ 12:45. I assume you are referring to Shipley. A wnderful woman who made the hard decisions and as a result forced the indolant beneficaries back into work because the benefits were no longer more than paid employment (and also were unaffordable. Something Clark never reversed despite years in government.
@monty, you got your bite from everyone,
keep on going that capitalism is the best way, whilst we still have democracy, capitalism is slowly going to end or evolve, the greedy rich are going to slowly loose the control they have.
The way you go on about labour needing new blood from middleclass,
non academics its as if you want a reason, any reason, to change your voting preference to labour.
David – WFF which is what you are referrig to has now become a burden that significantly contributes to the massive debt that will pull NZ down. Simply taxing the hell out of the rich does not work long term. real incomes failed to grow because of a tax structure that meant people changed the way they did things – like LAQCs Trusts. The rich still got very rich mainly through property. Wealth is not just income but assets. And wealth is created by investment in industry. (golly isn’t wealth evil?) Problem is Clark created an environment where NZers significantly invested in non-productive residential housing depriving industry of that capital and making home purchase unaffordable for the “ordinary NZer from Struggle Street”
NZ is significantly a society without a class structure in the likes of England but reardless there are still differences between say the working professional in wellington and the factory worker in south auckland. What is important is to give the children from each family the equal opportunity to achieve what they desire –
where we differ is that I support equal opportunity. The left want to promote an equal outcome. The left do that by forcing excessive taxes on the middle classes to fund their social programs (and to try and buy the votes of the liberal elite and the “ordinary hard working NZer from Struggle street in NaeNae”
Nope I wasnt referring to the former PM but the current Minister of Energy.
Viper @12:16 – Wages will increase through increased productivity – increased demand – at present we are in the midst of a economic slump – Monty can you show how wages increased, particularly the minimum wage, during the good times over say, the last 30 years other than by legislating for it?
@ rjs131
Yes, I did NZ Ironman at Taupo in 2003 and 2005. The 2005 time was a bit slower. Too many pies.
@ Monty, I’m not referring to WFF. Where do you get that from? I wonder whether you are deliberately misconstruing rather than engaging in debate?
My link at 12:57 is to a graph showing changes in NZ income disparities over time. The spread of incomes grows under National. On the linked site, you can also learn how this is bad for NZ socially and economically over time.
Monty, I am in favour of equal opportunity. The facts show that is not happening right now. Diliberately punishing middle and low income earners seems to be National’s only strategy for growing the economy – and it is not working.
@everyone Have fixed the bio link. Good discussion. Welcome to Red Alert David
@Monty I just don’t get you.
@Monty 1:28 – Unless of course you are saying that WFF was one of the policies that helped level the playing field. It is certainly an innovation that has enabled families to get ahead through hard work – rather than resigning themselves to wealth or poverty by accident of birth.
Bill English openly stated the tax cuts would be fiscally neutral when taking GST into account, and that the tax cuts were not intended to stimulate the economy.
They have not been fiscally neutral because the GST intake has fallen and what is his announced alternative to stimulate the economy? Monty, could you outline the detail of the strategy of National since 2008 (nov) to stimulate the economy?
Well haven’t you come to the wrong blog site, mate?
Honestly, Monty, retirement isn’t suiting you at all is it? Too much time on your hands? Not enough super to suit your lifestyle preferencs? You should vote Labour next time
Already totally exposed in the minister tax perk topic (by the way, how come you stopped posting there?) as a phoney nat apologist, you now have to make a fool of yourself all over again.
David appears to be the sort of candidate that stands head and shoulders over the business types bereft of real world, real life experiences that swarm over the tory benches.
Good luck in Dunedid, David. I’ll make a point to check the results come election night and think of Moanty doing the same, but not being as pleased as I will be.
David, you’re a breath of fresh air. Enough to make me want to put my faith back into labour. Thank you.
waterboy, Monty is absolutely a National voter, he seeks no reasons to vote Labour as far as I have ever seen?
WFF is a tax cut for the poorer and middle class child bearing folk of NZ. It has not caused debt any more than a tax cut for the middle to high earning bracket could have, if the same logic is applied. WFF is labelled a handout (by certain supporters of NACT, while the tax cut to middle and high earners is what? Economy stimulating? Nope, MOF disagrees? Producing more jobs? Nope, hasnt happened, redcuing debt, nope, increased savings? Yes, whetehr it’s attributable to National or crisis is debateable and certainly wasnt really forseen, hence the GST rise and tax cuts could be tax neutral? $20m to non guaranteed investors? Tax break to billion dollar movie company?
17 -20 years to retirement- by which time I expect to retire with significant wealth.
It will be a cold day in hell before I ever voe Labour – especially with the current line up. David woild be a good candidate if he had several years experiene running or managing a private sector business.
David @1:57 = WFF was a crude attempt to re-distribute income according to Cullens socialist utopia. The reality is that the excessively high marginal tax rates (up to 90%) take away any incentive to wrk harder and longer and attain better work. In the industry I work in, the contractors struggle to get the experienced family guys out to work the overtime because of marginal tax rates. In that respect the policy is a failure. In addition to the leveling of incomes was the envy tax whereby anyone earning over $60,000 had to pay 39% tax.
The Labour Party needs serious restructuring and a new policy platform more in keeping with the new direction NZ is headed. At present the Ghost of Clark and Cullen is too dominant. David you will win the safe seat of Dunedin North, but Labour will be trounced in the election. Until there is a clean out your lot is doomed to spend a long time on the opposition benches.
Yea, we need more business types, like the guys who run investment companies, people running banks, or property companies, oh, wait a minute… THEY made good money from those but their clients? So, I’m confused are they successful or unsuccessful businessman?
For example, only in a nation where the law makers (of any political persuasion) see money as king, can someone like Bryers begin his rort in 1998, liquidate, start again, liquidate do another and so and NO ONE stops him. NO regulation prevents him, because that would stifle “entrepreneurs”.
Tracey -I assume you are talking about parliament – I have never advocated that we need more bankers and property investors. What we need are people who run businesses that produce goods, manufacture or develop products, and come from running their own businesses but also people who understand law and finance. In Parliament we need a wide range of people – with good and varied life experiences.
What we don’t need are more teachers and unionists, or clowns who dress up as clowns, or pretend to be pigs is a sow crate. We don’t need more self important Word deleted. Trevor. like Winston Peters – that is definite.
Surely the best place for innovators and job creators and manufacturers is in manufacturing? In any event it’s going to follow that people from service industries, including law, teaching and unions will gravitate to parliamnent because of their sense of public service.
It’s much easier to criticise parliamentarians than to become one I guess.
The law commission drafts the laws and ammendments upon directives. ALL the people you talk about are invited directly or by public notice to present to select committees and others. In fact I would suggest the majority of Private Members Bills begin with an approach in writing or in person to an electorate MP.
MP’s have to have the ability to listen, be open minded, understand how to move things through process including into law, how to analyse and how to communicate with people. HOW to speak on behalf of others and how to sift wheat from chaff. These are the skills I believe they need. They dont need the ideas they need to be receptive to ideas, to prioritise, to make hard decisions and know how to take an idea and flesh it out, test its efficacy etc…
There is a phrase used primarily to address CCD posting on climate change sites but which is increasingly relevant for all political blogs and which Monty has made me think of. DNFTT aka “Do not feed the trolls”
Good advice MickeyS but jolly hard to follow sometimes.
Strongest addition to the Labour ranks this time around.
Congratulations David, look forward to your influence in Caucus.
Should be good having a minister in the Caucus. You can have a sermon and prayers before the meetings start lol.