Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Bringing an order Auckland just might not want

44 Responses

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  • linger, in reply to Simon Bennett,

    Centre Right' [...] tends to mean rabidly neoliberal

    = Scent of Fright.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    a vehicle for National

    Their leader tells RNZ Checkpoint that's not what they are.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Simon Bennett,

    'Centre Right'

    a key win in the right's control of framing since about 2006.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ben Ross,

    From Metro Mag

    Great piece by Simon Wilson there, thanks. Nails the conclusion too:

    Does Auckland Future want to run Auckland because, as with National running the country, they believe they are better at it? Or do they want power because they want to change the direction we’re heading in now?

    There’s a lot at stake, and an election less than a year away.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • william blake,

    Simon Wilson postulates that "if National could have found a suitable (mayoral) candidate they would have by now", I thought they had, in the form of Neo lib Phil Goff.

    Since Mar 2010 • 380 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Come on Russell, you already know the answer to that – repeat after me – lower rates, user pays, privatisation, business friendly.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    This Stu Donovan post on TransportBlog examines the claim in a fevered Paul Henry editorial that Auckland rates are “out of control” – which is also, of course, the animating concept of Auckland Future.

    He determines that, however you dice it, Auckland super city rates have risen less against baseline than the rest of New Zealand’s. Mere data aren’t going to stop these people saying these things, of course. But it seems noteworthy, to put it mildly.

    Edit: TransportBlog say they've since learned that Auckland removed Watercare costs from the rates total in recent years, so the difference probably isn't quite as dramatic as the graph indicates. But still not "out of control" or anything like it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Let’s see if this is a return of Luigi Wewege as this older article notes from Herald, he’s back.

    He already has his fingers in many pies

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to william blake,

    I wonder if National has realized what a blunder the super city was for them, and thinks its only stands a chance of getting a right wing candidate in is if they can rebrand themselves as "not the National Party". After a strong run in which it's patently clear that they're backing this new party, they pull out of the race, giving the old C&R a clear run. In the lead up they can drag debate to the right, making the center right look like the moderate option.

    I know the cretinous ACToids that are currently in there do this already. But they're too far out, too whack. Indeed the national brand of National most likely wants to disassociate from these nutters even more than it wants to disassociate with the national level ACT party. If they can spike this bunch's guns in the process, I think they might see that as a win. One useful idiot to your right can be a blessing, but a whole gaggle is just trouble.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    fevered Paul Henry

    redundant

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    As of Monday, only 7.3% of eligible voters had returned voting papers in Auckland Energy Consumer Trust (AECT) election

    I found the letter sent by C&R quite helpful in eliminating choices. It became pretty easy to identify those who just wanted higher prices and a bigger dividend compared to those who actually wanted to manage the trust for the benefit of all of Auckland including those who struggle to pay their power bills in winter.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Andre, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I'd love to see the rates graph compared to one showing house price increases. Rates are almost the only universal wealth tax levied in NZ, long may they soar.

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I wonder if National has realized what a blunder the super city was for them...

    Central government in Wellington has not exactly covered itself in glory with it's thrashing around trying to work out what to do about the beast of the north. Generally speaking, I think what the authoritarian state central bureaucracy fear most is irrelevance in the face of a semi-independent city state, especially if that city state's governance then starts showing signs of independent thinking. After all, what is the point of being the ministers secretary if the Aucklanders don't stand when you enter the room?

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Luke Williamson,

    Come on Russell, you already know the answer to that – repeat after me – lower rates, user pays, privatisation, business friendly.

    The usual suspects will support user pays with a passion. That is, until a budding entrepreneur sets up a toll booth on Remuera Rd or the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Then they’ll find some way to spin it as a ‘socialist tax grab’.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Russell Brown,

    And the fact that Bill Ralston – named by The Standard as a likely starter – has chosen to stand as an independent candidate isn’t a great omen either.

    Isn’t that the name you use when you call prominent right wingers “Arseholes”?
    Or is that KeyHoles?.

    a vehicle for National (one potentially at war with the established vehicle for National)

    And that vehicle is…
    A GTF-00A, It rides the Roads of Nationals Significunts to the bounteous nether regions of Aotearoa with a rapidity only exceeded by the growth of the National debt.
    The GTF-00A,
    got the fuck out of Auckland..

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Attachment

    Spotted somewhere in Parnell.

    And that vehicle is…
    A GTF-00A, It rides the Roads of Nationals Significunts to the bounteous nether regions of Aotearoa with a rapidity only exceeded by the growth of the National debt.
    The GTF-00A,
    got the fuck out of Auckland..

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Spotted somewhere in Parnell.

    I call photoshop... ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Nats play coy about Council, says Brian Rudman.

    If Mr Goodfellow and his backroom plotters want to rule Auckland, then for goodness' sake, come out of the closet and present a National-labelled ticket and policy. Who knows, it might encourage Labour and the Greens to present as a team and do the same.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    http://www.donotlink.com/h753 - Slatter undermines Kaye's posse as expected, including bitching thusly:

    Former National List MP Arthur Anae is rumoured to have been approached but has turned them down on the grounds he would not look good sharing a ticket with a woman who has had so much plastic surgery she looks like Barbie and drives a convertible Mercedes. Sources close to Anae say that he feels that Auckland Future is way too wishy washy liberal elite for South Aucklanders.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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