Where’s the “Oomph”?
Join us to protest privatisation of health on the 23rd October. But can we have more oomph and co-ordination please?
privatisation
Mountain Tui: Can we talk about New Zealand’s health system?
Christopher Luxon and Shane Reti took the extraordinary step of removing the Health NZ Board and replacing it with a Health Commissioner. Why did they do that and will it help the real issues facing our health system?
Local Government: crucial and undervalued
On the day of the council vote, we organised for the effected Citi-Ops workers to sit in the public gallery in the Council rooms wearing their High Viz’s and work gear. I was one of three speakers for the union, expressing opposition to axing these jobs. The Council debated the issue for about 30 minutes. Those councillors in favour of making the workers redundant argued that they should not interfere with management decisions. Those against the decision felt that management did not have the mandate to make this decision. The vote ended up being 7-7, so Green Party Mayor Celia Wade-Brown used her casting vote to uphold management’s decision to outsource these workers jobs. The Citi Operations staff were sitting in the room, so Celia and the councillors were looking at these workers as they made them redundant.
They got bailed out and we got sold out
Ros Wynne Jones in the Daily Mirror excoriates the excesses of the Banking system and wonders why the rest of us tolerate bankers’ behaviour.
Liberalism Uber Alles
If the political class think liberalism has failed, then why is it that the process of killing off NZ Post is approaching completion?
Sale of Key’s old house a powerful symbol
English admits that the government has done a poor job of maintaining state houses, and uses it as an excuse for privatisation – its by design. The attempted sale in Christchurch, incuding Key’s childhood home, is a powerful symbol of the way this government likes pulling up the ladder that they used behind them.
Nat state house selloff in tatters
Another fail in National’s plan to sell off state houses is good news for those of us who believe that it is the government’s responsibility to take care of society’s most vulnerable.
Nats push stupidest education plan ever
It’s not April 1st, so I’m forced to conclude that this is a genuine announcement: Students to learn online from home instead of at school under major education reform.
Flogging off Kiwibank
Flogging off Kiwibank is not an option.
Selling state houses to Australia
English needs to explain why the government can’t find NZ buyers for their “social housing” plans. The Nats to explain how selling state houses helps a single family in need.
De Boni on privatising mental health
A superb piece by Dita De Boni on the Nats’ plans to privatise mental health. See also (and sign!) Labour’s open letter opposing the “social bonds” scheme.
National’s social housing policy in action
For those who are wondering how National’s “social housing” policy is going to work in practice, The Herald today has a piece that gives a pretty fair idea.
Questions on Key’s housing sell-off
Key’s state house asset sale policy doesn’t make sense at any level, and the questions are piling up…
Oppose the housing sell off!
A last-minute, urgent appeal from Phil Twyford – oppose the sell off of state houses – today!
Social housing providers
Is Key planning to flog off state houses at half price to a liquor company?
Effects of privatised power
The entirely predictable effects of privatising much of our electricity generation capacity are arriving thick and fast.
Tell the police, New Zealand has been robbed …
Genesis Energy’s shares have been sold at a price well below their value. And despite considerable demand from local mum and dad investors one in four of the shares has been sold to overseas institutions.
Mighty Big Gamble on Mighty Big Gift
Hey John, how much public money are you going to pay the wealthy to “buy” our assets? (And how just desperate are you…?)
Market not impressed with $30 Million payout
Yesterday John Key gave $30 Million of tax payer’s money to Rio Tinto in order to prop up its electricity deal with Meridian – and thus to prop up his privatisation ideology. Mighty River Power shares took a hit. Smart investors getting out?
Another $30 Million to prop up Meridian sale
John Key just spent another $30 Million of tax payer’s money to prop up his privatisation ideology.
Meridian sale panic
The Nats must be panicking about the prospects for the sale of Meridian – because they’re resorting to extraordinary tactics.
Christchurch schools for sale
Recently closed Christchurch schools, which according to the Nats don’t have the student base and/or are too quake damaged to keep running, are going to be sold off for purposes including – charter schools.
The wheels are falling off
The Nats have tried to do too much too soon, and now the wheels are obviously falling off their sad “flagship” privatisation programme.
MRP sale fail numbers
Here are the numbers that sum up the MRP sale fail – foremost among them the $1,000 that the government has spent per Kiwi investor attracted.
Asset sales petition has more work to do
Breaking – The asset sales referendum petition has collected 292,000 valid signatures. It needs 16,500 more (about another 5%) to reach the threshold. The Keep Our Assets Coalition has 2 months to get the remainder – and says it will get them…
Rio Tinto ups the ante
Our “let’s make a deal” PM is outclassed on this one. I actually have some sympathy this time, the government is between a rock and a hard place. But while most of us worry about Southland, I suspect the Nats’ concerns will be a little closer to home…
Body on Mighty River
Judicial review of water ownership rejected
A win for the Nats, a loss for the country. The Maori Council’s request for a judicial review of water rights has been rejected.
Mighty River sale on hold
As expected, the High Court advised today that the government should hold off sale of Mighty River Power. The government is complying.
Asset sales grind on
Amidst all the current scandal and chaos, the Nats’ privatisation agenda grinds on.
Harawira’s arrest
On any other morning Hone Harawira’s arrest would be the big political news story of the day.
Maori unity and aspirations
Yesterday’s national hui on water rights has resulted in the best possible outcome for Maori, a decision to present a unified front in the face of National’s divide and rule tactics.
Water rights hui
It’s easy to see why Key has forbidden National MPs from attending the national water rights hui – he’s playing divide and rule with Maori. More difficult to understand is the Maori Party’s craven decision to stay away. Hone Harawira condemns them in the strongest possible language.
Asset sales delayed
Breaking news – the government is delaying the sale of assets until at least March next year.
NRT: Numbers out of his arse
I/S at No Right Turn on Key’s made up numbers.
Nats lied – power prices to rise
Minister after Minister denied it, but it turns out that common sense is right. Private power companies charge more. Privatisation surely means that prices will rise. Is it even news when this government lies these days?