Speaker by Various Artists

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Speaker: The Government lost the election

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  • BenWilson, in reply to nzlemming,

    I don’t think I’ve looked at that swamp since I read Dirty Politics

    Yes, it's been a good long while for me, too. Can't see any point.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    by the look of Kiwiblog is also struggling with multiple stages of grief and denial

    I've noticed (from Twitter) he's gone back to pretty much commenting on news articles constantly. I think that's probably more of a sign of time on his hands.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    Each day there's another of those moments when it hits me that this change really has happened. Half-awake in the mornings I hear the news "Today the Prime Minister ... " and I get ready to shout at the radio, then suddenly remember that I'm not supposed to be angry with him (sic) any more.

    Yesterday it was seeing Steven Joyce on TV. He was rubbishing the latest government move, not very effectively, and it dawned on me that he was performing poorly because he has never had to do this before . Elected in 2008, he has never been an opposition MP, not even for a day. No wonder he looked out of sorts.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to simon g,

    Joyce has plenty of experience rubbishing others; where he has little experience is in NOT having his bullshit automatically believed by being in government. If he's performing poorly now, that says more about the NZ media's habitual leg-humping of National than about Joyce himself.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to linger,

    Joyce has plenty of experience rubbishing others; where he has little experience is in NOT having his bullshit automatically believed by being in government. If he's performing poorly now, that says more about the NZ media's habitual leg-humping of National than about Joyce himself.

    Joyce likes to call himself a "Minister of Everything". In practice, he was actually the Minister of Truth, insisting everything was doubleplusgood.

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

  • Joe Wylie,

    Without Key's control panel at his fingertips Joyce is a mere husk of what he was. This great illustration of the guy in his heyday has nailed his role for me ever since it was published without an obvious author credit on Bryce Edwards' blog back in 2011. Anyone have any idea whose work it is?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Toby Manhire nails it with this piece today
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11939954

    ...while Barry Soper (who I won't even give oxygen by linking) is, well Barry Soper. Sad!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I read this from “…an older male journalist who simply needs to, kind of, update or move on…”

    Then I heard Golriz Ghahraman saying we could take 150 Manus island refugees comfortably in the Mangere refugee centre, maybe 250 if we fit out some rooms in bunks and I thought my goodness what a breath of fresh air it is good to have a government of younger people who busily try and puzzle out where to put everyone, rather than tired and cynical old men like Barry Soper who nowadays only see all the difficulties.

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

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    “…an older male journalist who simply needs to, kind of, update or move on…”

    There is no shortage of these it seems - Martin <cough> van Beynen.
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/98509688/more-cops-wont-make-our-communities-safer

    and apparently Hosking now says that governments don't matter at all, at all - I hope that road to Damascus didn't damage his nice car's suspension...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I hope that road to Damascus didn't damage his nice car's suspension...

    I wonder if we could crowdfund actually sending Hosking to Damascus...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Moz, in reply to nzlemming,

    sending Hosking to Damascus.

    Or Bir Tawil

    No government to distract him there. He'd have to find a new hobby.

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report Reply

  • WH,

    I hope the coalition focuses on reducing the cost of living and making New Zealand’s exports more competitive.

    The proposed increase in the minimum wage to $20 in 2020 would take it to more than three times the 1990 minimum of $6.125. Consumer prices have increased by a factor of around 1.75 since then. House prices are a different story, of course.

    Maybe this is me talking out of my hat – I think I started work on a $3 youth rate – but a $20 minimum seems a little on the high side. We should work on reducing our costs - like housing - instead.

    Since Nov 2006 • 797 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to WH,

    We should work on reducing our costs - like housing - instead.

    Too right, if NZ can stand up to its unelected House of Land-Lords who have too much to lose from any challenge to the status quo.

    We also need to take upskilling a lot more seriously than successive governments have done - in practice that means reskilling at no cost for today's and tomorrow's jobs. Especially for those who need it most, such as people at risk of technological unemployment.

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

  • WH,

    That's an interesting article. I enjoyed reading your Speaker piece.

    Since Nov 2006 • 797 posts Report Reply

  • Neil,

    Peters’ ability to act on his personal grudges turns out to be the big election winner.

    He never intended to go with National and a big reason wasn’t concern for NZ’s future but his grudges.

    Since Nov 2016 • 382 posts Report Reply

  • Neil,

    I wonder if anyone else in NZF apart from Peters knew at the time of negotiations of this planned legal action. How many feel somewhat duped at the moment.

    Certainly if Ardern or English had known they would have treated Peters’ negotiation positions differently.

    Since Nov 2016 • 382 posts Report Reply

  • Neil,

    The defense of Peters - he’s not as bad as Trump because he doesn’t believe what he says he’s only xenophobic for votes - isn’t a particularly great defense.

    Since Nov 2016 • 382 posts Report Reply

  • John Farrell,

    Before the coalition negotiations started, a politics follower I know, said they expected Peters to lead national to expect a deal, until the last moment. Considering the history between him and the national party, it wasn't unexpected.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    NZ-based ex-RussianTV/Ruptly acolyte (and NZ Herald writer) presents distorted view of NZ to the USA!
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/11/08/how-the-far-right-is-poisoning-new-zealand/?utm_term=.a9bb4a82934d

    What’s happened in New Zealand isn’t just horrifying because of the long-term implications of hate-mongers controlling the country, but also because it represents a blueprint that the far right can follow to seize power elsewhere.

    This writer has 'history' with Winston-baiting
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11933415

    Winston Peters is gaslighting the entire country. Sound extreme? If anything, I think it's an understatement, actually.

    Methinks Ben Mack is playing with the gas flow for dramatic and psychological doubt-inducing purposes as well...

    Let me get this out of the way: I have zero respect for a man who, for decades, has made populist xenophobia his stock-and-trade, and who seems to delight in causing misery for entire groups of people ...

    Ah hah the watcher from afar - how long have you been in the country Ben? 2 -3 years?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Attachment

    Methinks Ben Mack is playing with the gas flow for dramatic and psychological doubt-inducing purposes as well…

    No one else seems to be around so I'll just talk among my selves...

    I've been thinking further about this Ben Mack character, I can't decide if he has been misled or is trying to be misleading.... or agent provocateur?
    I have to say his 'gas control' is on a par with that other famed proponent - Le Petomane!

    But so egregiously wrong is he that I'm sure Sean Plunket and Duncan Garner will be vociferously denouncing this fellow 'journalist' as a traitor to his 'adopted country' any day now...
    ...the University of Canterbury will be taking down his effusive praise for their Journalism course, and Fairfax will be desperately trying to erase his time in Southland from the public record.
    The NZ Herald can keep him though - he fits right in there!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    Still reading, Ian. This is why we need a Like button. And emojis. And moar cowbell.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to ,

    The like button on Facebook et al, is specifically there so those MacDonald’s shit-food style ’social media’ outfits can observe the habits of people who click on it. That data is how they make billions on money.

    PAS, is a genuine internet based community. It’s not a shopping mall. I looked at the source code.

    Oh dear. Will I go to hell for clicking Like on a Russell Brown Facebook post the other day?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • John Farrell,

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • izogi,

    Also from the weird mind of Ben Mack, courtesy of the NZ Herald: 18 reasons why New Zealand is like North Korea.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

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