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National sleepwalking – see this months activity plan

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 30th, 2011

Even the Nats are getting pissed off with their own campaign. Thanks to whoever sent this – and yes this is the total event plan for the Nats for our region for election month :-

Date: Sun, Oct 30, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Subject: National events in your area

Upcoming events

Dear,

Following is a list of all events scheduled in the Lower North Island region for the next month.

Friday
11/11/2011
Ohariu November Friendly Forum

Organising Group:
Ohariu

Venue Information:
The Caucus Room, Parliament House
Molesworth Street
Wellington
Members Only

Party Speaker:
Katrina Shanks

View full details at
http://www.national.org.nz/Events/Events.aspx?eventId=2052
If your event is not included on this list, please email us at admin@national.org.nz and we will have it added to the website.

If you no longer wish to receive notification of upcoming events in your area please login to the National Party website and unsubscribe via the following link:

Thank you for your interest in the New Zealand National Party. For more information on the National Party, event details, or policy information, please visit: http://www.national.org.nz

Footer

Filed under: Elections, national
9 Comments

English flicks Merrill Lynch excesses

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 30th, 2011

So which risk taker was English referring to :-

Finance Minister Bill English yesterday expressed empathy with some of the ideals of the Occupy Wall Street movement, but says New Zealand has already moved to stop some of the financial excesses driving the protests.
Speaking at Otago University Vote Chat, hosted by Bryce Edwards, Mr English said the Occupy Movement, particularly in New Zealand had a wide range of objectives including the end of capitalism.

While he believed calling for the end of capitalism was wrong, he supported the ideal that financial risk-takers should be responsible for the consequences of bad investments.

The issues driving the Occupy Wall Street movement were well understood and there was discussion about what to do about them.

New Zealand was moving in the direction of making the banking system “more boring but safer”, he said.

So far, the financial system had allowed people to take risks which, if they worked, allowed those investors to pocket large profits. But if they failed, taxpayers were left picking up the loss.

“That is bad economics, bad politics and should change. You can’t take outlandish risks and expect the taxpayers to pick up millions of dollars of losses.”

The previous Labour administration had introduced a retail guarantee deposit scheme which had seen this Government cover about $2 billion of losses from financial companies.

By the end of this year, New Zealand would be one of the few countries in the world that would have no financial guarantee backed by the taxpayer, Mr English said.

“Let’s say a bank gets into trouble, the people who own the bank and the people who lent it money will take the hit, rather than the public.”

Asked by Dr Edwards whether he would be prepared to talk to the Occupy Movement in Dunedin’s Octagon, Mr English said he would, but the discussion would need to be around what would replace capitalism if it ended.

Filed under: national
7 Comments

Nek Minnit National – The Economy

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 30th, 2011

might even be worse than that.

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Filed under: national
12 Comments

Nek Minnit National – The Credit Downgrade

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 28th, 2011

Love this – will find and put up more.

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Filed under: national
5 Comments

Nats ads say “this year the choice is clear” I agree

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 27th, 2011

This year the choice is clear

Filed under: national
6 Comments

Clifton says Key bullshitter

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 17th, 2011

The Listener this week has Jane Clifton saying John Key is “bullshitting”.   We’ve known that for some time that he is often a stranger to the truth but it is good to see wider recognition of the fact.

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Filed under: national
23 Comments

brilliant 30 second answer for a slow john

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 17th, 2011

Well done John Pagani.

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Filed under: environment, humour, national
22 Comments

McCully embarrassed by tuppawaka TVNZ banned

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 13th, 2011

Can someone explain why McCully (Minister of RWC) can toss $2m towards the tuppawaka which is built on public land but support a ban on TVNZ filming the opening event.

Then there are questions of value for money, priorities etc.

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Filed under: #OpenLabourNZ, #ownourfuture, Television, economy, jobs, national, perks, rugby world cup
22 Comments

Even the cheerleaders are turning on Key

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 13th, 2011

Transtasman today :-

Govt agencies seemed slow to react to the ship running
aground on the Astrolabe reef. They did not appear to spring
into action, nor anticipate worst case outcomes. Local
residents, understandably appalled by the sight of toxic oil
sludge washing ashore, have complained of a lack of leadership.
They were incensed when Ministers said the salvage and cleanup
should be “left to the experts.”

Filed under: media, national
15 Comments

Boock hits spinning Key for six

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 13th, 2011

Richard Boock has a wonderful ability to make us think and laugh at the same time. His latest piece is a classic


Disaster Tourism? I know, fair enough; it does sound quite bad. But we’ve got to look at the positives. John Key reckons the maritime emergency off Tauranga would be much worse if Labour were in power. He’d had that on good authority, apparently. Someone told him that, if there were to be a change of government, the next oil slick would be far more widespread, the crude more toxic and the weather more extreme. Kiwis would probably die.

Even so, Tourism NZ’s “100% Pure” campaign is in tatters. A Twitter pal was suggesting some new slogans the other day. “Come to New Zealand – Wash a Penguin”, was a favourite. “New Zealand – Where Endangered Species Become Extinct”, also polled well. I could see her point, too. It worked in Chernobyl, after all. Tourism there is (almost) bringing the place back to life. What genius; being able to rape the countryside and profit from it as well. Talk about a win-win.

Say what you like about Key’s National-led government but its ability to see the cost of everything and the value of nothing remains undiminished. “There’s Always A Silver Lining” should be on its coat of arms. Four days of inaction while the Rena’s oil was salvageable. Declining offers of expert assistance. Using dodgy and possibly more toxic chemicals than the crude oil as a dispersant. Treating the locals like idiots. Haven’t we heard all this before?

Ah well, we can’t say they haven’t been consistent. When it comes to the importance of the environment, the Nats have always placed it well down their list of priorities. Unless it can be flogged off, that is. Hence the Prime Minister on breakfast TV yesterday desperately claiming that the Rena disaster wouldn’t highlight concerns over his government’s deep sea oil exploration programme. Don’t know about you, but I think he may have jumped the gun there a bit.

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Filed under: environment, national, trade
19 Comments

Facebook priorities

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 12th, 2011

Screen shot 2011-10-12 at 1.39.01 PM

Screen shot 2011-10-12 at 1.38.44 PM

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Filed under: Social media, labour, national
28 Comments

NZ doesn’t need dilettante PM – Dompost

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 12th, 2011

Dompost editorial on Key this morning:-

However, his failure to check the facts before opening his mouth has had the opposite effect to that which he intended. Instead of casting doubt on Labour’s economic credentials, he has damaged his own credibility.

It is not the only occasion in recent weeks in which he has misfired. Sunny-and-confident is in danger of tipping over the edge into flip-and-glib.

The Rugby World Cup has lifted spirits everywhere, but it is not an excuse for the prime minister to knock off work early. That, however, is the impression he has given. He seems more interested in hobnobbing with celebrities than the serious business of steering the country through an economic downturn.


and

Mr Key is a different creature from Miss Clark – he relies more on instinct and less on analysis; he is more optimistic, less doctrinaire. However, style is not a substitute for substance. The country does not need a dilettante prime minister. It needs someone whose No1 priority is the state of the nation. Less blokey joshing and more attention to detail would be in everyone’s interests

.

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Filed under: economy, national
18 Comments

Allan Peachey

Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 5th, 2011

Allan Peachey has announced his retirement.

His health battles have been pretty obvious and he has made the call that he might not live through the next term of Parliament.

Allan and I had some famous battles when he was Principal of Rangitoto College, the country’s biggest school. He used school funds to lease a box at the local stadium and was a very public fan of bulk funding.

While we disagreed it was always clear that he ran a good school and worked in the best interest of students.

When he came to Parliament this approach continued. For a period he had the best technical knowledge of the administration of schools and often offered very valuable advice. I sat for a year on the select committtee he chaired. He did it well and fairly. While never forgetting his party he gave the opposition their say and adopted appropriate amendments where they helped legislation no matter who suggested them. He would have been a good Minister. Much better than the current Minister.

So I’m sorry he is going. Very sorry that he is so sick. I have offered to facilitate a valedictory and while it is unlikely that he will take up the offer I hope he will.

He deserves to say goodbye.

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Filed under: education, national
11 Comments

National MP Opposes VSM Bill

Posted by Grant Robertson on September 28th, 2011

Here is a video taken of Michael Woodhouse at a public forum at Otago University in July. He quite clearly states that he is opposed to the Bill in its current form (ie the form that it is in right now). Today, in the Third Reading Michael Woodhouse and other National MPs will vote to pass the Bill into law.

Michael also goes on to assure people that the Bill in its current form won’t pass into law this year. I have heard from other students that is the same commitment they got from other National MPs. This was misleading students and the National MPs should be ashamed of themselves. They heard the evidence at the Select Committee, and they know that tertiary institutions do not want the Bill, the vast majority of other submitters do not want the Bill, but they are still supporting the ideological crusade of their crumbling coalition partner.

Michael also suggests that Labour should promote the ‘opt out’ compromise solution. We did. It was rejected by ACT and National.

So the question for Michael Woodhouse (and other National MPs) is, why will he vote to pass a Bill today that he does not support and that he knows will destroy student services and advocacy?

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Filed under: Tertiary education, education, national, students
23 Comments

John Key and that stadium shot

Posted by Chris Hipkins on August 19th, 2011

Remember that video clip of John Key standing in the Westpac Stadium in Wellington before the last election lamenting the number of New Zealanders who leave every year to move to Australia? Well, he’d need a bigger stadium for this year’s campaign video.

After 3 years of John Key’s government, the number of people leaving NZ to move to Australia is at its highest level in 10 years. 46,436 people jumped the Tasman for good in the 12 months to July. By contrast, only 14,807 made the jump back the other way.

Remember what John Key said in his 2008 campaign opening speech?

“Do you want more of the same? The same directionless economy? The same political games and distractions? The same loose management of your money? The same excuses, buck-passing, and the same failure to deliver real results?”

Let’s compare the 9 years of Labour government with 3 years under National. Under Labour we had record low unemployment, more people in the workforce than ever before, more people in tertiary education than ever before. Under National unemployment has sky rocketed and tertiary education funding has been slashed.

As for political games and distractions? This from a PM who walked out of Question Time to avoid answering questions from the Leader of the Opposition. The same PM who backed Rodney Hide, then Don Brash, and has now done a dodgy deal with John Banks in Epsom. The same PM who paid PR firms to get him on Letterman. The same PM who won’t be interviewed on Morning Report but will happily take patsy questions on The Edge…

But of course the state of the economy isn’t National’s fault. Their failure to deliver any meaningful financial relief to those on middle and low incomes isn’t their fault. Youth unemployment isn’t their fault (and in less than a week it’s gone from being John Key’s biggest issue to being a problem that’s ‘overstated’). Now, what was that about “buck-passing”?

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Filed under: Unemployment, economy, national
22 Comments

Good bid but are there still better options

Posted by Trevor Mallard on August 14th, 2011

HoS has story on a Sir Michael Fay led bid for Crafar farms.

This sale has become a symbol of our ability to retain economic sovereignty in New Zealand hands. A massive donation as been given to the national party in what I hope is a misplaced effort to get agreement to a Chinese buyout from Bill English.

I agree with Fay when he said

“Crafar farms have significant potential and this offer makes it clear that there are New Zealand buyers for these properties.

“I believe that retaining dairy farm land in local ownership is a key to maintaining long-term control of New Zealand’s key export earner and also key to retaining our trading advantage.”

But I still think that it is appropriate for the state owned farm developer Landcorp to get involved. They should buy, clean up and on sell the farms preferably to individuals who are currently share milking. The government is currently blocking this.

Filed under: agriculture, asset sales, national
14 Comments

What job has Key offered Brash?

Posted by Grant Robertson on July 20th, 2011

The cosy behind the scenes deal between National and ACT in the Epsom seat raises the question as to what other deals have been made between John Key and Don Brash in the run up to the election.

This morning we had the bizzare spectacle of Don Brash telling Radio New Zealand (story 6.35) he has had discussions with John Key about a deal in Epsom, and John Key trying to deny to Newstalk ZB that a decision has been reached about deal of the electorate vote.

Of course a deal has been done. But the real question is what Cabinet role he has offered Don Brash if National is re-elected.

The discussions Key and Brash have been having will have included what role Key might offer Brash. Its quite clear that if National is re-elected, Don Brash will be a Cabinet Minister, and will bring his extreme and divisive policies to the table. Its time for Key to be upfront about their discussions so that voters can make their choice in November fully aware of the role ACT would play in any future National led-government.

Also interesting in a later Radio NZ piece this morning were the voters in Epsom who were “irritated” felt “taken advantage of” and saw ACT as “National in disguise“. They all know that once again they are being taken for granted. It shows a lack of respect to them form National and ACT that they are not being offered a real choice by these two parties. The only real choice for Epsom voters will come from a Labour candidate.

It is arrogant of National and ACT to put up the biographer (Goldsmith) and his subject (Banks) as their candidates. It is a faux contest between two friends, and two parties who are hand in glove. With the Brash coup and the Banks/Goldsmith stitch-up it is becoming hard to tell where National ends and ACT begins.

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Filed under: act party, national
20 Comments

NACT list circuses continue

Posted by Trevor Mallard on July 17th, 2011

Peter Goodfellow has propelled the National Party’s list problems into the media today with a public plea for Asians and Pacifika to put their hands up. Bill English apparently ringing around those in receipt of his shonky deals as well.

They are obviously going to push some of their higher profile marginal seat members up the list. Expect Nikki Kaye, Paula Bennet, Hekia Parata and Peseta Sam Lotu Iinga to be boosted up the list because they are wanted by the hierarchy for the future.

But there are a few they want to get rid of. Katherine Shanks’ only value was to keep Dunne in. Quinn and Henare have big negatives and wont be saved given other Maori Nats being more highly rated and trust issues from closeness to Maori Party. Aaron Gilmore seen as arrogant and ineffectual. Kate Wilkinson might be saved this time so she can take the Pike River blame post election.

Don Brash has given up chasing Maori and is focusing on women again. Has a terrible habit of announcing candidates who have no interest in standing. I bet Heather Roy is having a laugh now having supported and being knifed by Brash. Maybe he should put Simon Lusk onto the search. Remember he is the guy who found the poll which guaranteed Brash 15% as Act leader. Wonder if Banks has asked for a refund yet.

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Filed under: act party, coalition management, national
5 Comments

kama sutra provides lessons to the leader of the national party

Posted by Trevor Mallard on July 17th, 2011

The trip to India wasn’t a total waste for the leader of the national party. He has had more positions than in the kama sutra on asset sales and taxation.

Was going to post on the fact that he has been missing in inaction since Tuesday. But The Standard beat me to it.

He now makes a habit of avoiding Parliament when in trouble. Combination of the house and journos on the bridge mean Captain panic pants locks him in his room. Wednesday was another example.

And it looks like he will have to share the front pages of major US newspapers and leads in the US electronic media. Pesky debt crisis. Wonder if he will offer Cullen’s services in getting country to nil net debt.

Meanwhile the #ownourfuture site is going gangbusters.

Filed under: #ownourfuture, Capital Gains Tax, asset sales, democracy, finance, inequality, national, parliament
9 Comments

was yesterday the worst for the leader of the national party yet ?

Posted by Trevor Mallard on July 13th, 2011

Lots of stories around.

Minister of Immigration tells Key that he is wrong about asylum seekers.

Minister of Defence admits he has insulted Crete veterans.

Minister of Labour looks closer to resignation over scrapping mining safety review as Solid Energy safety issues emerge publicly.

Leader of the National Party  gets polling which shows swinging voters overwhelmingly prefer CGT to asset sales.

Asked to choose between the two policies if they had to pick one to reduce debt, respondents chose capital gains tax 55% to 32% for National’s state assets policy of selling off 49% of assets.

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Filed under: asset sales, economy, national
10 Comments

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