A little birdy (I jest! It was a much much more reliable source than that... from deep within the inner workings of Wellington) told me that not only is a new conservative party being formed but also John Banks will be leading it.
BUT... the biggest piece of news of all is John Banks will be contesting Epsom! Now this has certainly been said before, for instance this NZ Herald article: Epsom tipped as place for Banks comeback
Although I thought this was always slightly unlikely? As John Banks is a much tougher political competitor than Richard Worth has been. And would National really be so silly as to risk knocking out the only political party than can rely upon to support them in forming a government? Possible but quite unlikely.
However the big twist here is an entirely new political party being formed AND contesting Epsom. Why? There are not many reasons you could explain here... other than the intention to knock out Rodney Hide and with that the whole of the ACT Party!
But perhaps with the intention to slide up the middle between the split vote between Rodney Hide and the National Candidate? With the intention of this new conservative party to take the place of ACT? Very risky, but the only thing that makes sense?!
John Banks is known as a very good fundraiser, and he is wealthy in his own right, so one thing is sure: this party is sure to be well funded for such a new party on the scene (a bit like the New Citizens Party too huh? Funded from Beijing... !). Thus the new conservative party poses a thread, to both ACT and National. ACT could get knocked out for good, and steal a few of their voters away. National could get far more voters stolen away than ACT, which would be a disaster for it if the new conservative party fails to reach 5% or win an electorate as that means wasted votes. (one of many reasons why I personally think the 5% threshold should be got rid of!)
Interesting times are ahead for sure!
PS: a word of warning to this new party, although you follow along to conservative politics, don't pick that as you party name! The last NZ Conservative Party didn't do so well.... ! And it is recent enough too that people who are not as young as I am can still have this fresh in their minds.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Don't the Greens believe in modern technology such as "watches"?
Greens get stuck in traffic, miss Botany by-election deadline
Maybe he partied too hard "late last night" after successfully becoming their candidate? That would be *my* mostly likely excuse if I was in his shoes...
However you have to ask why hadn't the Greens selected somebody well before a few hours before the cut off time? (as if you haven't even selected a person then it is going to be tough to get the nomination in early!)
With this brilliant display of forward planning it is no wonder we don't trust the Greens with economic planning for the country.
I will however suggest next time he cycles rather than drives, he is a Greenie after all!
I guess The Green Party is just not as serious political contender as "Pirate Party of New Zealand" or "Join Australia Movement Party"! Let's not forget "New Citizen Party", "Legalise Cannabis Party", and Penny Bright! As they're all jokes too, but at least they've been around for a while, but it is telling even those first two (Pirates and Australians!) which have no experience as they are brand new (?) could still get their shit sorted on time! (plus the "New Citizen Party" which is also brand new)
The Green Party has missed out on a chance to run in the Botany by-election for failing to register its candidate in time.
The Electoral Commission has released the details of who is standing in the March 5 by-election and where people can vote.
The Greens announced in a press release late last night that it had selected former staffer Richard Leckinger to stand, but Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden said Leckinger had not made it.
"A completed nomination form from the Green Party was not received before the legal deadline of noon today and therefore the Electoral Commission could not accept the nomination," he said.
Maybe he partied too hard "late last night" after successfully becoming their candidate? That would be *my* mostly likely excuse if I was in his shoes...
However you have to ask why hadn't the Greens selected somebody well before a few hours before the cut off time? (as if you haven't even selected a person then it is going to be tough to get the nomination in early!)
With this brilliant display of forward planning it is no wonder we don't trust the Greens with economic planning for the country.
I will however suggest next time he cycles rather than drives, he is a Greenie after all!
Botany by-election candidates:
Al-Saady, Hussain - Pirate Party of New
Zealand
Biggs, Leo Aotearoa - Legalise Cannabis Party
Bright, Penny -
Independent
Caithness, Robin - Join Australia Movement Party
Goh, Robert -
Independent
Murphy, Lyn - Act New Zealand
Ross, Jami-Lee - National
Party
Wood, Michael - Labour Party
Young, Paul - New Citizen
Party
Young, Wayne - Independent
I guess The Green Party is just not as serious political contender as "Pirate Party of New Zealand" or "Join Australia Movement Party"! Let's not forget "New Citizen Party", "Legalise Cannabis Party", and Penny Bright! As they're all jokes too, but at least they've been around for a while, but it is telling even those first two (Pirates and Australians!) which have no experience as they are brand new (?) could still get their shit sorted on time! (plus the "New Citizen Party" which is also brand new)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
THE FAIREST DEAL FOR EVERYONE
AoC supporter D.P. today unveiled an action plan to create jobs and grow the economy, including a major overhaul of the tax system.
“AoC will rebalance the tax system so that everyone pays their fair share. We will provide some financial relief for all New Zealanders and crack down on welfare dodgers who exploit the system, leaving the rest of us to pay the price for their actions..”
AoC’s fairer tax plan includes:
• introducing a new tax-free zone so that in important economic zones people won’t pay any tax on the first several thousand dollars they earn. Naturally Auckland will be this tax free zone, being the center of NZ's economic production. (note: oh, I suppose as we're all about equality we'll have to include the rest of the country too!)
• cracking down on work avoiders and the loopholes they exploit.
• creating a flat tax system with a new low rate for EVERY earner.
“We know many New Zealanders are feeling the financial squeeze as they face skyrocketing grocery bills and rising petrol and power prices. Prices are the highest in 21 years because of National’s GST hike and are far outstripping any increase in wages.
“AoC will help ease the pressure by giving all New Zealanders a break. We’ll do that by giving everyone the same tax rate, no matter what your income or what you do for a job."
“It’s a tax plan that benefits everyone, not like the current tax rate under John Key where the vast majority of the tax is paid by a few." (for more info read "Ten Men Went to Dinner: Tax Cuts Made Simple")
“ACT on Campus will not borrow for its tax cuts and we will decrease GST, and additionally make sure our assets are used most effectively.”
ACT on Campus will help pay for its new tax-free zone by putting the squeeze on work dodgers, such as those who structure their affairs to avoid paying their fair share by working under the table. Or another example is those who claim not to be living together when they are to further exploit the welfare system.
“ACT on Campus will target welfare abusers who arrange their affairs so they can rip off the tax system and leave other taxpayers to carry the load. This kind of avoidance is bludging. It is wrong and it’s bad for the economy.”
No top tax rate will be introduced to ensure everybody pays a fair share. If we break our promise (as politicians tend to do) then the threshold will be set be set so high it will impact nobody at all, infinity dollars per year as been proposed as a reasonable point at which to have the top tax rate. The detail of ACT on Campus’ overall tax policy will be released later this year.
ACT on Campus is also announcing today a new five point package to create higher incomes and better jobs.
The action plan includes:
• Making research and development a priority by removing excess red tape, particularly in the clean tech sector.
• Will re-introduce the youth wage (and maybe get rid of the minimum wage entirely) so that our young people don’t end up on the unemployment scrapheap.
• Reduce debt, by ensuring our strategic publicly-owned assets are used effectively and including private management/ownership where desirable.
• Changing the way the Reserve Bank works and making sure monetary policy serves growth in business (and thus employment) and our export sector.
• Actively managing the economy and working closely with industry to grow quickly, sell more to the world and bring jobs home.
“I want to build a country that is prosperous for everyone. I want to create one New Zealand, not a country increasingly divided by the growing gap between rich and poor. I want to lead a country in which everyone pulls their weight, pays a fair share and gets a fair go.”
This has been a serious press release, for a more amusing press release which as a joke shouldn't be taken at all seriously check this out: A FAIR DEAL FOR EVERYONE by Phill Goff
“AoC will rebalance the tax system so that everyone pays their fair share. We will provide some financial relief for all New Zealanders and crack down on welfare dodgers who exploit the system, leaving the rest of us to pay the price for their actions..”
AoC’s fairer tax plan includes:
• introducing a new tax-free zone so that in important economic zones people won’t pay any tax on the first several thousand dollars they earn. Naturally Auckland will be this tax free zone, being the center of NZ's economic production. (note: oh, I suppose as we're all about equality we'll have to include the rest of the country too!)
• cracking down on work avoiders and the loopholes they exploit.
• creating a flat tax system with a new low rate for EVERY earner.
“We know many New Zealanders are feeling the financial squeeze as they face skyrocketing grocery bills and rising petrol and power prices. Prices are the highest in 21 years because of National’s GST hike and are far outstripping any increase in wages.
“AoC will help ease the pressure by giving all New Zealanders a break. We’ll do that by giving everyone the same tax rate, no matter what your income or what you do for a job."
“It’s a tax plan that benefits everyone, not like the current tax rate under John Key where the vast majority of the tax is paid by a few." (for more info read "Ten Men Went to Dinner: Tax Cuts Made Simple")
“ACT on Campus will not borrow for its tax cuts and we will decrease GST, and additionally make sure our assets are used most effectively.”
ACT on Campus will help pay for its new tax-free zone by putting the squeeze on work dodgers, such as those who structure their affairs to avoid paying their fair share by working under the table. Or another example is those who claim not to be living together when they are to further exploit the welfare system.
“ACT on Campus will target welfare abusers who arrange their affairs so they can rip off the tax system and leave other taxpayers to carry the load. This kind of avoidance is bludging. It is wrong and it’s bad for the economy.”
No top tax rate will be introduced to ensure everybody pays a fair share. If we break our promise (as politicians tend to do) then the threshold will be set be set so high it will impact nobody at all, infinity dollars per year as been proposed as a reasonable point at which to have the top tax rate. The detail of ACT on Campus’ overall tax policy will be released later this year.
ACT on Campus is also announcing today a new five point package to create higher incomes and better jobs.
The action plan includes:
• Making research and development a priority by removing excess red tape, particularly in the clean tech sector.
• Will re-introduce the youth wage (and maybe get rid of the minimum wage entirely) so that our young people don’t end up on the unemployment scrapheap.
• Reduce debt, by ensuring our strategic publicly-owned assets are used effectively and including private management/ownership where desirable.
• Changing the way the Reserve Bank works and making sure monetary policy serves growth in business (and thus employment) and our export sector.
• Actively managing the economy and working closely with industry to grow quickly, sell more to the world and bring jobs home.
“I want to build a country that is prosperous for everyone. I want to create one New Zealand, not a country increasingly divided by the growing gap between rich and poor. I want to lead a country in which everyone pulls their weight, pays a fair share and gets a fair go.”
This has been a serious press release, for a more amusing press release which as a joke shouldn't be taken at all seriously check this out: A FAIR DEAL FOR EVERYONE by Phill Goff
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Random Commentary on the Day's News 19/1/11
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/4557375/Kiwis-chubby-but-drinking-less
"New Zealand heads the Asia Pacific region in spending on health - nine percent of gross domestic product - against Australia's 8.8 percent."We spend MORE than Australia on Health, clearly the solution to any health problems we are having is not to be dumb and throw even more money at it. Instead we need to become more efficient with the money we are currently spending by being more competitive.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4555775/Stand-off-at-Auckland-art-deco-houses
This is so wrong. ACT strongly supports property rights, and as such we believe it is wrong for other people to try and force you to do what they want with *your* property.This comment is insightful from one of those who wants to "save" the houses:"If I had the money I'd buy the three houses and thumb my nose at the rest of the world," Mrs Burnes says.That sums it up well, she doesn't have the money thus she wants to use another person's!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/4333948/Dreams-demolished
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10700742
There is a lot of talk of Hone Harawira, Sue Bradford, & Matt McCarten forming an extreme far left wing party. I don't see this as a bad thing, as the new party would should how very moderate (or should that be left?) National actually is. Which could then give them the flexibility to strike a truly "right" path due to the contrast with the nonsense this new extreme left party would spew.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/4553740/Climbing-companions-take-barbecuing-to-new-heightshttp://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/4555264/Summit-cook-up-offends
Could you believe a small segment of Maoris got upset over this? (I do find it a bit disgusting he tries to cast these intrepid extreme BBQers in the same light as the graffiti vandals) Looks epic to me! Good on them.
"New Zealand heads the Asia Pacific region in spending on health - nine percent of gross domestic product - against Australia's 8.8 percent."We spend MORE than Australia on Health, clearly the solution to any health problems we are having is not to be dumb and throw even more money at it. Instead we need to become more efficient with the money we are currently spending by being more competitive.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4555775/Stand-off-at-Auckland-art-deco-houses
This is so wrong. ACT strongly supports property rights, and as such we believe it is wrong for other people to try and force you to do what they want with *your* property.This comment is insightful from one of those who wants to "save" the houses:"If I had the money I'd buy the three houses and thumb my nose at the rest of the world," Mrs Burnes says.That sums it up well, she doesn't have the money thus she wants to use another person's!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/4333948/Dreams-demolished
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10700742
There is a lot of talk of Hone Harawira, Sue Bradford, & Matt McCarten forming an extreme far left wing party. I don't see this as a bad thing, as the new party would should how very moderate (or should that be left?) National actually is. Which could then give them the flexibility to strike a truly "right" path due to the contrast with the nonsense this new extreme left party would spew.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/4553740/Climbing-companions-take-barbecuing-to-new-heightshttp://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/4555264/Summit-cook-up-offends
Could you believe a small segment of Maoris got upset over this? (I do find it a bit disgusting he tries to cast these intrepid extreme BBQers in the same light as the graffiti vandals) Looks epic to me! Good on them.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Gang Influence and Corruption in the Maori Party?
Minister was warned gang would re-occupy seized HQ
Papers released under the Official Information Act reveal that Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples stepped in to try to stop any demolition because the gang pad caters for the "spiritual and cultural needs" of Maori.
The MP wrote to the Auckland City Council asking staff to ignore the illegal structures and to grant a waiver for breaches of the district plan.
At the time, the new owner was in negotiations to sell the property to a trust connected to Dr Sharples' Tamaki Makarau electorate manager, Martin Cooper.
Mr Cooper is a former Black Power president who used to own the Jolson Rd property through the Piki Mai Trust.
In the letter, the Maori Affairs Minister said he attended a hui at the Black Power headquarters in 2005 with Tariana Turia as co-leaders of the Maori Party and that "the whare catered for the spiritual and cultural needs of our hui".
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Paul Henry & 'Racism'
This whole incident I have found shocking. Not from the statement, but from the reactions. For instance a TVNZ staff member resigning over DOING HER JOB?!?! Ludicras, that is what PR people are MEANT TO DO. They have to defend whatever stupid things might happen in their company to the press/public, even if they might have personal misgivings about the situation. Or rather they are meant to make their clients look good, which is generally by defending them. Ok perhaps you can say she failed in this case due to the public reaction, but is this a significant enough failing to resign over? No.
It gets worse to then read: "while an MP went as far as suggesting New Zealand could do with multi-cultural legislation". Oh great, what MP was this? I'm going to go out on a limb here and propose this legislation he imagines would be:
a) racist legislation.
b) infringing on our right to free speech.
TVNZ PR manager offers resignation - NZ Herald News
It gets worse to then read: "while an MP went as far as suggesting New Zealand could do with multi-cultural legislation". Oh great, what MP was this? I'm going to go out on a limb here and propose this legislation he imagines would be:
a) racist legislation.
b) infringing on our right to free speech.
TVNZ PR manager offers resignation - NZ Herald News
Friday, September 17, 2010
David Garrett and the ACT Party (comments)
In recent news it has come out that David has been a naughty boy in the past. How serious is this? Naturally the press have been having a field day in going in to every little detail.
There are thought were the most interesting/insightful/amusing comments made on the articles on the NZHerald.co.nz website:
There are thought were the most interesting/insightful/amusing comments made on the articles on the NZHerald.co.nz website:
RichMac said: "If it's good enough for the court to discharge him without conviction and permanent name suppression who are we to conduct the witch hunt? Leave him alone."
John said: "While I may not like Mr Garrett and I certainly don't favour the Act Party, I don't condone the media and public habit of "hunting and shooting down" public figures for minor transgressions.
"Be fair, look at the specific charge in this case and the resulting $10 fine. It arguably was self defence and even though he was convicted the magnitude of the fine indicates it was not serious. Why would anyone want to put themselves forward for public service in this petty environment?"
Davedog thought the conviction had been blown out of proportion. "We are not talking about some malicious criminal act here, we are talking about a confrontation that escalated, someone's work against someone else's, and a dubious conviction in a 3rd world country."
And Hugh wrote: "We have a Minister of Work & Income who was on benefits, so why not a spokesman for Law & Order who has an assault conviction? The best gamekeepers are reformed poachers as the saying goes.
Wayne reckoned "perhaps the mindless "three strikes and you're out" law Mr Garrett was pushing for offers some help to us in determining whether he should still be the ACT spokesperson for law and order. By my count that's two strikes against him in the last day. One strike to go, David."
Ray offered a slightly different view. "Maybe David Garrett, in proposing his "three strikes", has carefully planned so as to have one up his sleeve?"
korknutt said: "That's two strikes so far Mr Garrett. Hope your policy works and can keep you on the straight and narrow from now on."
PR said:
Is the NZ Herald guilty of breaching the permanent name suppression granted to Mr Garrett?
Even if Garrett had told Parliament what he had done the suppression order would have meant that no on could have reported that? Parliament TV could not have broadcast it etc.
So do we expect to see a mass of broadcasters prosecuted for breaching name suppression order. This has since been lifted at Mr Garretts request but the media were reporting it long before that.
Are the NZ media going to continue to breach the court order and publish the name of the dead child, and add further stress to the family?
William said: "Whats David Garrets REAL indentity ? (....if hes' done it once!)"
KC said: "A leader and deputy pairing of John Boascawen and Heather Roy (the order to be voted on) will go a long way to restoring the member and public faith in the Act party. Anything less is a Rodney Hide farce and we have already seen to much of that."
overdahz said (in reference to Rodney Hide would be beaten in Epsom if National put up a strong candidate): "The obvious candidate is the National MP who lives in the Epsom Electorate - John Key."
Even if Garrett had told Parliament what he had done the suppression order would have meant that no on could have reported that? Parliament TV could not have broadcast it etc.
So do we expect to see a mass of broadcasters prosecuted for breaching name suppression order. This has since been lifted at Mr Garretts request but the media were reporting it long before that.
Are the NZ media going to continue to breach the court order and publish the name of the dead child, and add further stress to the family?
William said: "Whats David Garrets REAL indentity ? (....if hes' done it once!)"
KC said: "A leader and deputy pairing of John Boascawen and Heather Roy (the order to be voted on) will go a long way to restoring the member and public faith in the Act party. Anything less is a Rodney Hide farce and we have already seen to much of that."
overdahz said (in reference to Rodney Hide would be beaten in Epsom if National put up a strong candidate): "The obvious candidate is the National MP who lives in the Epsom Electorate - John Key."
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