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Former banker Bruce Wills and current head of Federated Farmers has joined the chorus attacking NZPower. He invokes how horrible life was before 1984, as thought this had something to do with NZPower. You can read the full list of his horrors here. Among them…
climate change im/migration Mining poverty referendum uncategorized
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Analogue TV transmissions have now ceased on the mainland (and will have stopped countrywide by December) - the end of an era. I hope we are all recycling our TVs responsibly - this Ministry for the Environment recycling programme is great. It isn't necessary to…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Aotearoa is Not for Sale is counting down to the National Day of Action this Saturday 27 April. Helen Kelly has stated her support for the day of action. “Its really important people attend the rally on Saturday. Selling the assets makes no sense – economic or social. Retaining…
activism assets class war energy infrastructure national/act government privatisation sustainability
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Last week Poverty Watch took a brief detour with a special issue on fuel poverty. This week were'e back with our series on the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCCC) 2012 report "Child Poverty in New Zealand evidence for action". Chapter 3 Our Approach This…
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A year ago the nats announced massive changes to employment law. And then they went quiet. Now with a new Minister of Labour they've decided it's time to move. There's a lot of nasty stuff in the package Simon Bridges tried to sneak in yesterday,…
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In February 2008 Key ignited one of his first media storms with his comment at a business meeting that "we would love to see wages drop". Subsequent events had all the hallmarks of what we now recognise (from too many examples) as classic Key crisis…
capitalism class war employment john key national Unions wages workers' rights
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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National announced their Labour laws today, rolling back all the improvements brought in by the fifth Labour government. There were some new sanctions on workers' right to strike: parties will have to provide notice of a strike, and employers will have a new right to…
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I like my employer, and they're not ungenerous. But I'm pretty sure they wouldn't spend $250,000 on helping me to get another job - and one that I'm a long shot for at that. As Tim Groser's employers, you've got to wonder just how generous…
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What's on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can't we all just get along?
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The changes announced today to employment law represent the most serious attack on the rights of working people to a fair go since 1991. As I wrote on this blog that the Bill will reduce the Employment Relations Act to a farce and the result…
business employment equality jobs minimum wage Unions wages workers' rights
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John Key's explanation of his meetings with Ian Fletcher hide Key's main aims and activities in plain sight. They link to wider activities in relation to US-led initiatives around digital copyright, intellectual property and commerce. In relation to this, away from the glare of NZ's MSM there have been some significant recent…
accountability capitalism copyright democracy under attack internet john key national slippery spin telecommunications trade us politics
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I/S at No Right Turn on the strange disappearance of the Electoral Commission recommendations on MMP. Soon it will be too late to have changes in place for 2014... MMP review: Running down the clock Last year, the Electoral Commission presented its review of MMP [PDF]. But…
accountability election 2014 electoral commission electoral systems MMP scoundrels
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Today's Dominion Post anonymous editorial is an interesting one: it constructs some false equivalences; it glosses over the role of the MSM in providing an extended honeymoon halo for John Key; it glosses over the significance of Key's GCSB cover ups; however, it does point to the…
accountability brand key capitalism democracy under attack john key Minister for Photo-ops national news slippery spin Spying us politics
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Time after time after time we have seen variations on the same theme - without competent regulation things go wrong. It doesn't matter whether the lack of regulation comes about as a result of specific policy decisions or of lack of resources to do a…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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So, as reported today on Stuff, Peter Jackson has released a video; probably part of John Key's deal to undermine NZ workers in exchange for using The Hobbit to promote tourism in NZ. The scenery is breath-taking, and shows what we are losing as a result…
accountability brand key capitalism Conservation energy Mining same old national sustainability tourism
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Relevant in so many ways to current events in NZ, here are extracts from an excellent article by George Monbiot. Read the full piece in The Guardian or at monbiot.com. This faith in the markets is misplaced: only governments can save our living planet The…
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Last night Maori TV screened an excellent documentary He Toki Huna New Zealand in Afghanistan (by Kay Ellmers and Annie Goldson). It is now available for viewing on Maori TV's website. It explores the role of NZ in Afghanistan, particularly through following the investigations of jounrlait Jon…
accountability afghanistan International Maori Issues news spin us politics war
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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lprent: On the eve of ANZAC day, I thought that it was appropriate to publish this guest post by a soldier on their reasons for departing the Defense Force. There are few organisations these days who spend as much resource and effort on training as…
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We're seeing more of these "infographic" approaches to communicating policy. Labour's most recent effort on NZ Power seems like a good one: (Compare and contrast with a recent National effort.) Now that we're getting past National's histrionics, we're also seeing some good simple presentations of…
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Well, now it comes out that Key met with Ian Fletcher on several occasions before and immediately after Fletcher was appointed to the top job at the GCSB. As I argued previously, in "Networks of influence". Key works to make the most of the (not…
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I'm not surprised that the finance crew are so upset about the gently social democratic policy that is NZ Power (the latest stupid claim is that it'll mean higher mortgages). But what is surprising is the way in which they've made it very clear that…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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The Civilian is a new satirical blog that has making waves lately. If you haven't visited The Civilian yet you should - add it to your bookmarks! Because after all, you know a blog has really made it when it provokes a bizarre and heavy-handed…
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Brokers and analysts, you have nothing to lose but your fees. (Never mind, there's always the $200million Bill English and the Treasury have already slipped your way from the taxpayer.) Following Labour and the Greens unforeseen announcement about NZPower, a host of the usually uncontested…
cost of living energy Privatisation Steven Joyce uncategorized
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I came across this 33 minute film, Housing in New Zealand (1945) on Archives NZ's youtube channel. It is a film produced by Public Works Department Film unit, and graphically shows the massive building of state houses that swung into operation after the war. It…
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The Nats don't seem to be able to debate the Labour / Green electricity sector plans rationally. Here we are five days later and still the best that they can muster is desperate ranting. It started with Joyce's "the commies are coming" press release: Labour…