Posts by Roger
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
since 1953
Too quick... I see that this deployment is not continuous
-
Our forces were in Bosnia for 12 years on a formal basis and 15 years all-up.
Three New Zealand Defence Force officers are involved in border observations in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. And NZ has been represented there since 1953. That is an all out war that has not yet officially come to an end!
-
...watching Senator Conroy's special Christmas train-smash closely
It is always comforting to look over the fence and see that it is browner on the other side!
-
Act's ministerial positions are horrifying. Local government is being done to death in here, but there are other portfolios that are at least as scary
Really?
Here in the blog-o-sphear possibly, but almost no comment at all in the general media. Despite the huge impact of local government on the daily lives of communities. Your water, sewage, stormwater, parks, libraries, roads and then regulation of building, food service, alcohol, gambling etc before you even get to RMA matters
-
Uh, yeah. I was a little shocked when I heard that ACT had been handed that Ministry. There's an awful lot of damage that they can do there
We shouldn't have been shocked, this appointment was fairly clear from election night. A lot of the ACT policy resonates with many National supporters ("Better Transport, Better Roads" etc) but would be so unpopular it could not be implemented. With ACT as their agent it allows for some of this stuff to be trialled whilst allowing them to distance themselves from responsibility should that be necessary. The rates capping bill now becomes an almost certainty which puts at risk many of local government’s capital works that are exposed to ‘inflation’ well above that of the general rate. This probably draws a line through local government assistance with broadband for example. We should also expect at least investigation of the corporatisation/privatisation of many services… water first. In Auckland it puts a whole new dimension on the ongoing Royal Commission review.
-
Almost nothing has been said about the potential programme for the Minister of Local Government... and what National will permit them to do. Probably because few care about councils and they often make a good whipping boy.
This is fairly depressing considering the huge impact that local government makes upon most peoples' lives... in some regards, greater than the impact of central government.
The National manefesto is almost silent on local government, notwithstanding the RMA, but the ACT policy is more detailed:
• Local government will be required to shed its commercial activity, thereby eliminating the need to separate regulatory and commercial functions between local and regional councils.
• Roads and piped water will be supplied on a fully commercial basis.
• Abolish the local government power of general competency.
• Require councils to focus on their core functions.
• Ensure there is much greater scrutiny of regulations that undermine property rights.
• Promote contracting out of many council services.
• Lower the cost of complying with the Resource Management Act and other regulatory regimes.
• Review the two-tier structure of local government. -
Judith Tizard is the only MP I have really known to more than say hello to ... She is one of the kindest people I know.
Russell
Thank you for this, as someone who has also worked and (on occasion) socialised with Judith, I could not agree with you more. -
In a speech as recently as 8 October, John Key said:
I would like to acknowledge that on the 11th day of next month, we will be commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armistice. This is part of our nationhood and we rely heavily on our veterans' community and, in particular, the RNZ RSA to continue to help New Zealanders to have pride in our country and in themselves.
So I don't think that he forgot
-
Also, Helen never actually put her in cabinet which is not a supportive move
I believe that in a Labour government the caucus votes on the 'cabinet' and then the PM hands out portfolios; therefore that is the caucus's decision, not Helen's
-
ae. none to bright those green voters...
Yes indeed!
In Epsom 2,050 voted Green, but 2,204 voted for Keith Locke... not that tactics would have shifted Hide (because of the Nat voters who did understand MMP), but you do have to seriously wonder about some of these people!!