Posts on the economy, work, business, income, and labour
Written By: - Date published: 5:31 pm, December 11th, 2012 - 25 comments
In these troubling times, it was uplifting to see the flax-roots, practical and collaborative action at the Onehunga Recession Busting rally for beneficiaries today. Volunteers in front of the WINZ office in Onehunga Mall, are giving support and assistance to those most in need.
Written By: - Date published: 9:58 am, December 11th, 2012 - 88 comments
As an outsider watching the struggles in the Labour Party unfold, I am becoming increasingly despondent about the state of Left wing politics in NZ. Right now, NZ, and those of us who party vote Green/Mana, require a strong, democratic and solidly left wing Labour Party.
Written By: - Date published: 9:27 am, December 11th, 2012 - 54 comments
Child poverty is fixable, but National isn’t interested.
Written By: - Date published: 3:37 pm, December 10th, 2012 - 205 comments
CTU press release in response to story of Todd Rippon being dismissed from his job for being a union member.
Written By: - Date published: 2:25 pm, December 10th, 2012 - 4 comments
Irish has already covered the appalling statistics from the Children’s Social Health Monitor. What struck me was the paucity of the Government’s response. Tony Ryall – unavailable for comment – merely put out a statement saying the Government was doing plenty as 33% of the budget went on social security and similar things. One might […]
Written By: - Date published: 7:42 am, December 10th, 2012 - 81 comments
Over at Stuff Ben Heather is reporting on the Children’s Social Health Monitor and the chilling fact that, in the last five years, 600 Kiwi children have died from poverty related causes.
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, December 9th, 2012 - 3 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: Tax-shaming and the real shirkers, climate change, disability month and happiness.
Written By: - Date published: 9:49 am, December 8th, 2012 - 10 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, poverty and eduction, and a special edition of Poverty Watch coming up…
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, December 8th, 2012 - 51 comments
Yesterday evening there was an Aotearoa Not For Sale protest in Auckland: 350,000 signatures achieved! Today, Sat 8 Dec, Day of Action against TPPA: NELSON – noon: AUCKLAND – march leaves Aotea Sq at 2.00 pm sharp! [Update: only news when there’s violence!]
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, December 7th, 2012 - 72 comments
Another sad chapter in the ongoing collapse of manufacturing in NZ. A particularly bitter chapter, because it didn’t have to be this way.
Written By: - Date published: 8:50 pm, December 6th, 2012 - 10 comments
Away from the front pages of the MSM, there is information about opposition to the TPP. Aside from the secrecy, the TPP is looking far too complex and all-encompassing. There are some protest events coming up in the next few days.
Written By: - Date published: 10:05 am, December 6th, 2012 - 53 comments
The Key government’s sham and failed ideology of freedom and democracy can be seen in two Bills that were before the House this week. This government is increasingly autocratic and anti-democratic, while enabling the powerful to exploit and control the powerless, including children.
Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, December 6th, 2012 - 49 comments
“It can only get worse from here.” – that’s the Automobile Association’s numbers man on petrol prices. It’s quite a revelation because, until now, the AA has been firmly part of the dinosaur establishment that has been insisting petrol prices will ‘soon’ fall to ‘normal’. Mark Stockdale also gets the logical response to peak oil – stop building sprawl, reduce consumption.
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, December 5th, 2012 - 15 comments
A rather secretive bid in Central Otago/Westland for what amounts to a toll road cutting through a National Park. As with the as-yet-undecided tunnel and monorail proposals, this raises the question of whether Zealand is moving in the direction of selling its most public and protected land to private developers, for their private profit-generating schemes. It will have meetings to brief as many “key stakeholders” with a “significant interest” but will include “no public meetings”.
Written By: - Date published: 11:01 am, December 5th, 2012 - 64 comments
Yesterday Jacinda Ardern questioned Paula Bennett on WINZ paying for beneficiaries to travel to Aussie to get jobs. Did she highlight the government’s poor record on jobs, or inadvertently trigger more MSM bennie-bashing? Do any MPs raise their voices strongly beneficiaries?
Written By: - Date published: 10:05 am, December 5th, 2012 - 33 comments
Last month, new Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler told Parliament that our banks aren’t excessively profitable – middle of the pack internationally. He was lying.
Written By: - Date published: 7:54 pm, December 4th, 2012 - 40 comments
RELEASE THE TEXT
Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, December 4th, 2012 - 46 comments
There’s a fabulous win for consumers and a Government good news story out of the Commerce Commission yesterday – significant cuts in the cost of broadband for consumers. You. But John Key’s not happy and is threatening to legislate over the decision.
Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, December 3rd, 2012 - 16 comments
Dear Jack, It’s been almost a century since your major contribution to NZ . Many still see you as an inspiration for a left wing vision. Unfortunately, we are having to fight the same old battles once again, the poor are being demonised, and we need more state housing.
Written By: - Date published: 12:32 pm, December 3rd, 2012 - 5 comments
TPP Out of the Shadows – What they won’t tell us and why we should be worried about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Lori Wallach and Jane Kelsey will deliver presentations and take questions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) at 6.30pm at the Old Government House Lecture Theatre, University of Auckland.
Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, December 3rd, 2012 - 9 comments
A week of [updated: video] protests against the secretive TPP began today outside entrance to Sky City Convention Centre, where the latest round of TPP negotiations are being held. The majority of Kiwis are not happy with the secrecy. Jane Kelsey & Canadian Peter Clark identify problems.
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, December 2nd, 2012 - 7 comments
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: Child poverty, malnutrition, austerity, Israel in the media and stoicism.
Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, December 2nd, 2012 - 10 comments
This story reads like a Bond film – with people getting bumped off left, right and centre.
And where do they do their money laundering? Good ol’ Aotearoa.
Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, December 1st, 2012 - 27 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, the return of Inside Child Poverty, and the view from Planet Key…
Written By: - Date published: 8:21 pm, November 30th, 2012 - 16 comments
The next round of secretive TPP negotiations is in Auckland next week, 3-12 December. John Key will be lovin’ it! A National Day of Action & world wide protest on Saturday 8 December, – it’s about NZ independence, economy and sovereignty. Update: protest events 3-8 Dec
Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, November 30th, 2012 - 28 comments
Over the past four years 40,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost (and over a thousand manufacturing companies have shut up shop). The government is in full denial, so the opposition parties have set up their own inquiry. Today is the last day for submissions.
Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, November 30th, 2012 - 26 comments
I/S at No Right Turn asks why the government is letting rich multinational companies get away with exploiting tax loopholes. Here’s an idea – close the loopholes and spend the revenue on schools.
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, November 30th, 2012 - 33 comments
I have a suggestion.
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 pm, November 29th, 2012 - 12 comments
The big story for the day is the likely change in press regulation as the Leveson Report on questionable media ethics is about to released. But the next couple of stories are also interesting with similar (unresolved) stories here this year: Minimum Price for Alcohol, and Caps on Payday Loans
Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, November 29th, 2012 - 66 comments
What to make of yet another Goldman Sach’s appointee?
Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, November 28th, 2012 - 144 comments
Government has a central role in job creation. Just ask National. They’ll tell you it’s not true, and then proudly proclaim that they got The Hobbit made here, creating 3,000 temporary jobs. According to the New York Times, the total cost of our government’s subsidies for The Hobbit is NZD$150m – $50,000 per short-term job.
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