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Who’s Next?

Posted by Sue Moroney on October 29th, 2010

I’m a Matamata girl, well I was born and raised in Walton to be precise, about 10 kms north of Matamata.

The whole Hobbit thing has been great for my home town and I too am an advocate of it continuing to be filmed there. But there are other small people who are endangered in Matamata and I expect they will be asking for tax-payer hand-out to keep their multi-million industry and its associated jobs going.

I’m talking about the racing industry ( although it is of course true that those who work in the industry are not all small).

Thanks to this Government’s economic mismanagement, the racing industry is really struggling. And to make matters worse, the additional funding put in by Labour when Winston Peters was Minister of Racing was stripped away by National this racing season because the country couldn’t afford it.

What a slap in the face to that industry to see that suddenly, the country could afford it when Warner Bros rolled into town.

How come an American corporate entity deserves tax-payer subsidy, but a home-grown industry employing thousands year after year doesn’t?

And are there more deserving cases who could have done with the $33m without selling our independance as a country down the tubes, demanding changes to domestic law without seeking the opinions of New Zealanders via a select committee process?

Filed under: Tax, Uncategorized, democracy, economic, jobs, waikato, workers rights
56 Comments

Tax Swindle Leaves 38% in Waikato worse off

Posted by Sue Moroney on October 18th, 2010

So says the front page of Saturday’s Waikato Times, after they polled 180 readers on the subject.

only 12% felt they were any better off, 38% worse off and 33% unchanged. Some readers said John Key has lost their vote over the GST increase.

And just to show how out of touch those on big incomes are with reality, a partner of Deloitte Hamilton says people just had to “reprioritise.”

“You can choose whether or not to spend money and therefore pay tax,” he said.

Really? Choose not to buy groceries, pay the power bill, pay for petrol, pay the rent? This man has no idea that low and middle-income families spend all they earn on just getting by.

His out-of-touch comments reflect arrogant National Party thinking. Guess he must be in the 12% laughing at the expense of the other 88%.

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Filed under: Cost of Living, Hamilton, Uncategorized, economy, inequality, polling, waikato
19 Comments

The Nat Love Affair with Helicopters

Posted by Sue Moroney on July 27th, 2010

What is it about National’s Tertiary Education Ministers and Helicopters?

First off, we had Anne Tolley taking the tertiary sector literally when they suggested she should take a “helicopter view” of the sector -she had them stump up for a costly ride in a chopper over Auckland.

Now, we have Steven Joyce telling the country that he would prefer fund helicopter trips for commuters between Hamilton and Auckland than to subsidise a passenger train service between the two cities.

He seemed to have borrowed Simon Power’s strategy of heavily inflating the cost to the taxpayer, so he could justify his idealogical postition against trains and for more and more roads. Joyce claimed the  train would cost $15-16,000 per trip which is complete rubbish.

Power used this tactic to try to justify the closing down of Hamilton’s successful trial youth justice facility, Te Hurihanga.

Maybe they just think people can’t do maths in Hamilton. Sonething of a miscalculation, if you excuse the pun.

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Filed under: Hamilton, Rail, Uncategorized, education, infrastructure, transport, waikato
15 Comments

PPPs spells Poor Pupil Peformance for Education

Posted by Sue Moroney on July 21st, 2010

Some of you will know that I’m a betting woman and I’m willing to wage a bet that the long-awaited new North East Hamilton secondary school will be on the list of  school properties being prepared for a Private Public Partnership.

When in Government, Labour was prepared to go down the PPP path, where it could be demonstrated that it made good economic and social sense. But it never did. And it still doesn’t.

The private sector wants its hands on this school building ownership so it can make a buck out of the taxpayer.

And while they make a buck out of it, education will lose out. Not to mention the loss of control by the school and lack of access to school properties by the community.

Its another bad plan from a Government that has already run out of ideas. It is now reduced to following failed models from other countries – a bit like national standards really.

 It has been a disaster in the UK and it will be here too.

Filed under: Hamilton, Uncategorized, education
16 Comments

Families Hit Hard in Budget

Posted by Sue Moroney on May 20th, 2010

Not content with increasing GST for low and middle income families, the Nats added another $23-31 a week per child onto families’ early childhood education costs.

They have reduced the 20 hours free ECE subsidy for those centres that have 80-100% qualified staff – that’s a broken election promise and its an attack on quality education and families all in one hit.

Meanwhile, the wealthy get wealthier with whopping tax cuts.

Isn’t it strange how a National Government does the same things in “tough times” as it does any other time – the rich get richer and everyone else has to pay for it. This time, its our kids and their futures.

Filed under: Uncategorized
8 Comments

First Budget 2010 Protest

Posted by Sue Moroney on May 20th, 2010

ECEnocutsThe first protest against Budget 2010 started around midday today when a lone protester stood on the parliamentary forecourt holding his placard. He wanted the government to know that early childhood education does not need cuts.

I popped down to have a chat with him just after attending the celebrations for National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards in Parliament’s Grand Hall where some ECE teachers had accepted theirs. Earlier in the day ECE students had their graduation ceremony.

This is a day where people have been celebrating ECE. Now it’s time to see what the government has in store for this education sector, and the country.

Update: Funding has been cut to the 80-100%  qualified staff funding band for 2211 ECE services that educate 108,000 children. Their parents will have to decide whether to have a lower quality of education or pay higher fees. Great choice eh!

Filed under: Uncategorized
38 Comments

2nd World Ambition for NZ

Posted by Sue Moroney on May 5th, 2010

They used to be ambitious for New Zealand – but that was before the election.

Now, Hamilton’s National MPs say that “New Zealand is now a second world country and can only expect second world care and facilities.”

That’s what Tim MacIndoe and David Bennett told the Midland’s Region of the NZ Nurses’ Organisation when they visited them in Novemebr 2009.

Ruth Dyson sought leave to table the NZNO Newsletter containing the two MPs comments in Parliament today and it looked like she was about to get it. The Leader of the House didn’t object, nor any of their front bench.

However, from the murky depths of the National back bench an objection finally did emerge – from David Bennett.

Seems they think they can say one thing in Wellington and something else in Hamilton.

Filed under: Hamilton, Uncategorized, economy, health, waikato
22 Comments

Key Slippery on Childhood Education

Posted by Sue Moroney on April 28th, 2010

The Nats were looking decidedly uncomfortable today about their plans for to cut funding for early childhood education in May’s budget.

Both TV1 and TV3 covered this story that the Government was hoping to bury in the budget day haze that will surround the taxation issue.

Remember, you heard it on Red Alert first, when I blogged on their plans for funding cuts to ECE last week.

Filed under: Red Alert, Uncategorized, children, education
19 Comments

Solidarity Forever

Posted by Sue Moroney on April 27th, 2010

This post is the first in a series (I hope) of updates on the progress of my horse, the aptly named “Solidarity,” who first entered Labour Party folklore when he won a race during the Mt Albert by-election campaign.

At the time, we were all stuck in Parliament on a Saturday debating the super city legislation under urgency. For a bit of light relief I convinced a number of my colleagues to put $5 each into a group bet on Solidarity. The proceeds from our well-timed winning bet were donated to the Labour campiagn in Mt Albert and David Shearer subsequently bolted in.

I put it all down to the the great “karma” Solidarity generated when he “bolted in” that day at Te Rapa.

Anyway, Soli kicked off his 2010 Melbourne Cup campaign (he didn’t make it in 08 or 09 but this could be his BIG year) at Tauranga on Saturday and he nearly won!

He came in second and was beaten by a short neck (that’s the margin, not the name of the horse).

But here’s the exciting bit – this race was all wrong for him.  It was run on a hard track over 1400m. To date, he’s been at his best on a soft track over 2100m.

Did I mention what a great name he has?

Filed under: Hamilton, Labour Party, Uncategorized, mt albert, personal, waikato
15 Comments

Save our Kids from Anne Tolley

Posted by Sue Moroney on April 1st, 2010

Anne Tolley has been so distracted by her shambolic implementation of national standards that she has failed to implement National’s election promises for early childhood education – and she’s preparing the sector for bad news in the budget.

At a March 25 meeting, Anne Tolley told the Early Education Federation that the improved staff ratios they promised for under-2’s in this term of Government has been put back by three years.

Her proposal to have shorter courses for primary school teachers and those with overseas qualifications  has also  gone on hold.

But the most frightening part of the meeting notes, circulating in the sector today, is where Tolley criticises the amount of government spending going into the sector and warns “there are some tough decisions to be made.”

She then points out that in the last 5 years there has been a significant shift from parent cost to government cost. She’s referring to Labour’s hugely successful “20 hour free ECE” policy. No wonder Tolley insisted that the word “free” be dropped from its title!

All very ominous. But wait, there’s more.

She thinks its time the ECE curriculum was reviewed and added we also needed to ensure children had basic literacy and numeracy skills. Sounds familiar. That’s national standards for our three and four year olds. Maybe our under twos? Imagine being labelled a failure at kindy!

I think its time John Key stepped in and saved our kids from being subjected to Anne Tolley and her incompetency. She is failing early childhood education.

Filed under: Uncategorized, children, education
46 Comments

Petition to Protest Youth Justice Closure

Posted by Sue Moroney on February 16th, 2010

There have been a number of posts from Jacinda on the stupidity of the Government closing down the Te Hurihanga youth justice facility in Hamilton.

Essentially, the facility has been working with some of our young men who are the worst offenders and are on the pathway to a life of serious crime. It has had extrodinary success rates in the three years  of the programme’s pilot, with none of the graduates offending in the first 10 months since they completed the programme.

If you agree with us that this is a shortsighted decision, then you can fill out the petition launched by a local Hamilton woman, aimed at reversing the funding cut.

The petitioner came to my office in Hamilton to seek advice on how to go about doing a petition. When I asked her what her motivation was she said “I just think everyone deserves a second chance.”

She has had no involvement with the programme, but is a fair-minded Hamiltonian who thinks the decision stinks. I’m with her on that!

Te Hurihanga Petition

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Filed under: Hamilton, justice, petition
1 Comment

Hamilton Election Promise Broken Already

Posted by Sue Moroney on February 9th, 2010

“Promise on Road Project Broken” screams the front page of the Waikato Times today. It was being delivered to homes all over the Waikato just as John Key was delivering his speech outlining his Government’s programme for the year ahead. How appropriate!

The NZ Transport Agency came to Hamilton yesterday to deliver the news that the Hamilton leg of the expressway is now not scheduled for completion until 2024. The problem is that the Nats made an election promise to complete the Waikato Expressway inside ten years – that is by 2018.

The other problem is that the Minister has reversed the order of construction so that the Hamilton by-pass comes last. That will create a bottleneck effect as the construction takes place to the north and the south of Hamilton first.

It means larger volumes of traffic will be delivered to congested Hamilton streets until 2024.

It looks like the Hamilton Government National MPs, David Bennett and Tim MacIndoe lack the influence and the ability to get their major election promise delivered.

Oddly enough, even though John Key used his speech to announce the Kopu Bridge replacement for the 11th time, the Waikato Expressway didn’t feature in his speech at all today. Hmmmmm………curious.

Filed under: Hamilton, Uncategorized, infrastructure, transport, waikato
5 Comments

Come on John, where’s the passion?

Posted by Sue Moroney on February 1st, 2010

Joining 250 other Hamiltonians in 27 stifling degrees to listen to Phil Goff’s scene-setting speech last week, I was struck by two main revelations:

  1. It’s not true that Hamiltonians desert the city for Coromandel beaches in January and;
  2. NZ needs a leader with passion and substance (like that displayed by Phil in his speech).

What stuck in people’s minds after Phil’s speech was the passion he has for delivering to the many, not the few.

I have watched John Key “ho-hum” his way through a few speeches now, and everytime I have been underwhelmed.

I know he’s working hard at cultivating the “clown at a BBQ” kinda cosiness, but watching him do an official speech is a bit like being a wedding guest during the best man’s speech.

You know he thinks its his job to embarrass the bride and groom, but you hope he won’t cheapen the occasion too much.

I think NZ deserves better than that.

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Filed under: Labour Party
21 Comments

Xmas Message from the MOT – don’t take trains, buses or walk anywhere

Posted by Sue Moroney on December 16th, 2009

Obviously, the MOT doesn't see trains or walking as part of the travel options over Summer. No wonder the Nats have cut or frozen funding for both activities in many NZ locations! (Thanks to Hamilton City Councillor, Dave MacPherson for the "heads up")

Obviously, the Ministry of Transport isn’t promoting train travel, bus travel or walking as  ways to get around over Summer. No wonder the Nats have cut or frozen funding for walkways and passenger transport in many NZ  locations (thanks to Hamilton City Councillor, Dave MacPherson for the “heads up” on this one).

Anne Tolley is safe to take some more helicopter rides though!

Update: Apparently, the tree trunk is a train. Too clever.
Now I will expect the MOT to argue that a passenger train service between Hamilton and Auckland is “central” to the region’s tranport policy. Hooray!

Filed under: Uncategorized
8 Comments

Wong Declines to Comment on Top Priority

Posted by Sue Moroney on December 15th, 2009

Why is Pansy Wong so media-shy on the issue of Pay Equity?

Last night, she refused to be interviewed on a “special report” on the gender pay gap on TV One and earlier in the year she also refused to be interviewed on a documentary on the subject broadcast on Radio NZ.

Some poor bod in her office realised how bad it would look for the Minister to decline to be interviewed on TV and a statement was belatedly issued, saying “pay equity is a top priority for the Government.”

Yeah, right! If it truly was a top priority, the Minister would take every opportunity to publicise what the Government is doing.

Trouble is, the only things they have done are close down the pay and employment equity unit, scrap pay equity reviews and refuse to hear submissions on the pay equity petition signed by almost 16,000 New Zealanders.  Perhaps they mean that reducing pay equity is their top priority?

Filed under: Pay Equity, inequality, labour, women
11 Comments

Wong Set Up to Fail?

Posted by Sue Moroney on December 13th, 2009

Well, I couldn’t possibly say it, but right-wing blogger Cactus Kate has.

She says Pansy Wong’s appointment as Minister of Women’s Affairs was done knowing she is incompetent, thereby making it ineffective as a Ministry.

“So it didn’t surprise me she was given a portfolio that needs to be gotten rid of – Women’s Affairs. If her job is to discredit it with incompetence so even the pinkos want to get rid of it, she is perhaps succeeding and John Key is a management genius for gifting her the portfolio” – Cactus Kate 12/12/09

Perhaps that’s also why the Chief Executive has left the job after just one year under the new Minister? Her job was advertised last week.

I think this is the first time I find myself agreeing with the prickly one!

Filed under: blogs, inequality, politics, women
11 Comments

What Does National Have Against Kids?

Posted by Sue Moroney on December 3rd, 2009

Did anyone else catch Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson saying the Government would not extend Paid Parental Leave at all?

They were also the only party who refused to form an all party parliamentary caucus for children, after indicating for the past 2 years that they were keen to participate.

Add this up with their “dumbing down” of the early childhood sector and their funding cuts to the most severly disabled children in our education system and it seems that their “brighter future” doesn’t include children.

…And if they are serious about closing the gap with Australia, then they must move on paid parental leave soon, as the Aussies go to 18 weeks leave in a little over 12 months time, while we have 14 weeks.

Filed under: children, education, labour, workforce
37 Comments

Hamilton Passenger Train Service Gathers Steam

Posted by Sue Moroney on December 2nd, 2009

Around 100 people attended a public meeting in Hamilton last night to discuss the proposal to get a passenger train service for commuters between Hamilton and Auckland.

The meeting was hosted by the Campaign for Better Transport and the business case for the train service is well-established.

Unfortunately, Nanaia Mahuta and I are the only local MPs supporting the train service – the two National MPs told the meeting all the reasons it shouldn’t go ahead.

The National Party rhetoric goes something like this:

*Hamilton is too small to sustain the service;

*Hamilton should be grateful that it is getting funding for an expressway;

*Waikato Mayors just want the expressway completed in 10 years time instead;

* There is a private bus company that commuters could use.

Their arguments don’t stack up. Masterton and Palmerston North have passenger train services to Wellington and they are a lot smaller than Hamilton.

The expressway, when completed at a cost of $2b in 10 years time, will save 10 minutes on the journey to Auckland – that is until Waikato cars get to the Southern Motorways and sit in traffic jams for ages!

The Waikato Mayors have always argued for a balanced transport system for the region and they didn’t anticipate the Government was going to cut city public transport funding for Hamilton to fund the expressway as they have.

Oh duh… the buses to Auckland get caught in the traffic jams too.

I reckon the real reason David Bennett and Tim MacIndoe are talking the proposal down is they agree with the Don Brash Taskforce comissioned by John Key when it recommended the sale of state assets.

KiwiRail will be the first up for sale and they won’t want a whole lot of Hamilton commuters up in arms when they sell it off.

Filed under: Hamilton, infrastructure, privatisation, transport, waikato
21 Comments

Sneaky Riley (Tolley) the Rat

Posted by Sue Moroney on November 25th, 2009

A few weeks back, Anne Tolley announced she was delaying the requirement for 80% of early childhood educators to be qualified teachers – only she forgot to say her Government had also decided to scrap the planned increase to 100% qualified teaching workforce forever!…or at least until 2011 when Labour gets back in and gets serious about improving standards in ECE again.  Today, the Ministry of Education confirmed that the Nats have scrapped the policy to move to a fully-qualified ECE workforce but couldn’t explain why the Minister didn’t announce it nor why its ECE Advisory Committee had not been consulted on this major policy shift.  The policy shift was noted, it said, in its “frequently asked questions” section on the Ministry website. I smell a rat. I wonder if the Minister picked up this cunning strategy from her recent bedtime stories?

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Filed under: children, consultation, education
19 Comments

Fairness @ Work under National?

Posted by Sue Moroney on November 4th, 2009

Thank goodness I don’t have a fragile ego (if I have one at all). In the past two weeks, the Nats have block-voted against hearing submissions on a petition I championed signed by nearly 16,000 other New Zealanders and they have also introduced a Bill reducing the right for all NZ workers to have a meal break – undoing legislation passed under Labour, based on a members’ bill I drafted.

But this posting is not about my ego, because that’s not the reason I’m am MP (can’t speak for others). I’m not taking it personally. After all “its not about me.”

It is about the thousands of school support staff, social workers and other ordinary fair-minded New Zealanders who the National Government took deliberate action against by block-voting to ensure they didn’t have to justify the axing of pay equity investigations for these hard-working New Zealanders.

And it is about workers who’s health and safety will be put at risk if National goes ahead with its plans to give employers the specific right to require workers to attend to their duties during their meal breaks and rest periods.

It is highly unusual for a select committee to refuse to hear submissions on a petition – particularly one of that size. However, the Nats were prepared to sacrifice the democratic principles of select committee procedures so that they weren’t put in the embarrassing position of having to defend the indefensible.

The Minister of Labour has already admitted that the Pay and Employment Equity Unit was closed down by her against the advice of her Department of Labour officials. Maybe the Nats blocked the hearing of submissions on the petition because they were worried about what the DOL would say in its submission?

Whatever the reason, David Bennett, Jackie Blue, Tau Henare, Allan Peachey and Michael Woodhouse should hang their heads in shame as the MPs who voted to block submissions being heard.

I bet none of them admit to having prevented the petition from being heard the next time the turn up at their local schools for a visit.

As for the right to a meal break at work, I don’t know about you but when I’m flying, I wanna know that the person in the sole-charge regional control tower is well-rested, alert, hydrated and has reasonable blood-sugar levels when they are giving important information to the pilot of my plane.

The Nats though, are passing legislation to ensure that they have to work through meal and rest breaks and in the process are subjecting all other NZ workers to the same possibility.

Not the brighter future they promised really, is it?

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Filed under: Pay Equity, Uncategorized, democracy, education, human rights, labour, legislation, national, select committee
10 Comments

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