I've no idea how the ownership of those fits into the whole mess. I'd think they'd be more of a liability than an asset now. Who would want their product…

The interesting thing from a Canberra angle is that, according to a report in the NZ Herald, Northern Crest Investments is paying Bryers over $10,000…

Like Cunliffe said, early chilhood education WTF?

According to the Herald (quoted approvingly by DPF), the Labour government had offered early childhood providers more money if they hired skilled staff. By cutting that funding, the National government is giving ECE providers the freedom to hire quality staff who do not have…

BLUE CHIP FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED

Name changed 1/4/2008.

Bryers' employer at Northern Crest Investments Ltd

He has an employer? Why would anybody hire someone so monstrously incompetent? I hope everybody with their money at "Northern Crest" realises.

Many of the investors at court wanted jail for Bryers, but the corporate community considered a community work sentence severe for such charges.

Court files viewed by the Herald on Sunday show Bryers' employer at Northern Crest Investments Ltd tried to convince the judge to…

It took two paragraphs before I looked at the byline to see it was written by that other well-known "Ro" – Roger Kerr.

I read a piece on Stuff bylined as Vernon Small, and thought: this is refreshing, I'd better take back at least some of the criticism I've leveled…

Even when Jonkey managed to say it himself. Working for Families? Two parents, two kids, not even counting the trouble they'll have with free daycare now (ECE my ass), pay nothing after WFF credits, all they way up to where most people live.

Surely that shonky, wonky, honky, Jonkey
would…

Even when Jonkey managed to say it himself. Working for Families? Two parents, two kids, not even counting the…

some good reading on Red Alert regarding the Budget

Thanks Sofie – I'd seen that. Let's hope that some journalists pick up some of the issues raised and they get wider exposure. I suspect that a lot of those that will be worse off as a result of the Budget…

Plunket would truly put Key's feet to the pillow, yes.

applause

Interesting article in DomPost today about the careful media management by the Government and implying that Key is scared of a grilling by Sean Plunket

Plunket would truly put Key's feet to the pillow, yes.

Well, I agree with that too. National have really done a superb job of framing the narrative in the last five or so years, but I'm still slightly surprised that so many can be bought off so cheaply.

Three words: bread and circuses.

Or in this day and age, whitebread…

Anyone saying that this is unfair to lower income earners is either really stupid or just greedy.

Take that!

Don't forget that right-wing parties are funded by people with deep pockets, and can afford to spend a great deal on research and communications professionals.

Well, I agree with that too. National have really done a superb job of framing the narrative in the last five or so years, but…

Exhausted by the fight for every breath, the dying woman somehow musters the strength to give a grateful smile.

‘Thank God,’ she murmurs. ‘Thank God for that. And the
business community, the corporate investors? Please tell
me they will suffer no more.”

I wanted to ask something actually, to everyone and nobody in particular: Around the start of the last decade did it actually seem like there was a lot of hope that NZ would become a fair and just, environmentally friendly, culturally assured place?

I think that you are right, and…

selfish is the new black

You nailed that one.

Earth to National party! Earth to National Party! People love their family and friends! People aren't selfish pricks!

I believe it's the people who voted for them and continue to lend their support in polls who you need to be talking with – especially to understand what the appeal is.

This is coming to resemble more and more the New Zealand that I first experienced in 1997. Cold fucking place, on an institutional level.

Same shit, same Nats.

This is coming to resemble more and more the New Zealand that I first experienced in 1997.

I wanted to ask something actually, to everyone and nobody in particular: Around the start of the last decade did it actually seem like there was a lot of hope that NZ would…

This is coming to resemble more and more the New Zealand that I first experienced in 1997.…

I didn't think there was GST on wages??

Precisely.

An extra dose of hyperbole anyone?

They may be referring to remibursement for expenses. Which may indicate these are being used as wages. Which might be evasion or fraud. So someone should probably discretely suggest they STFU.

Because not all charities…

The fat exists. It's just that they are, for some reason, choosing to look in the wrong places.

Oh yes.

But even if it were cut out, it's a rounding error in the scheme of things...

Yep,as J Cocker would say "Cunts are still running the world"

I think that it's dicks, rather, who are running the world.

Hear! Hear! No surprises at all. Fucking horrible little grubs is about the size of them.

looking forward to the latest edition of
New Zealand Business Who's Hu Hu

English signals asset sales.

from Stuff:

''It seems to me, and I have checked this, that there is a strong demand…

And in related tardiness Bennett notices that NGOs funded by her Ministry are likely to be nailed by the GST increase.

from the Radio NZ Site:

Federation of Family Budgeting Services chief executive Raewyn Fox says the not-for-profit sector's expenditure is mainly on items for which GST cannot be claimed…

the fucking horrible little grubs (and yes, I mean like borer in the framework of our society.)

But – while I feel grief & anguish at the way things could go- I feel no surprise whatsoever.

This is what Nats *do.* Have done, and will do again unless-

Hear! Hear!No surprises…

In fact, one could argue that reliance on (largely) middle class volunteers only delivers services to those considered to be the "deserving" poor

The majority of volunteers in Italy is actually from the working class. Do you have statistics for New Zealand?

See, I don't agree with that. I've seen news articles within the past five years talking about how more than a million people in this country do volunteer work every year.

My definition of an egalitarian society doesn't include voluntarism as a core component.

In fact, one could argue that…

Treasury has assumed, when calculating the net impact of the GST rise vs tax cut trade-off, that rich and poor alike spend all of their weekly income.

That may be true of the poor as they try to procure…

English signals asset sales.

But not this term, right? Because I'm pretty sure they pledged not to break more than eight campaign promises in the first term.

the fucking horrible little grubs (and yes, I mean like borer in the framework of our society.)

But – while I feel grief & anguish at the way things could go- I feel no…

(and oh noes! I spelt your name wrong earlier! sorry!)

No worries!

Everyone is going on like this is some sort of inexplicable lapse, or out of touch oversight.

Not here – think we're pretty well aware how constructed the whole discourse is.

However, I'd hope the media might show more brain cells and balls. Must be hard to feel proud and…

The egalitarian society is dead.

See, I don't agree with that. I've seen news articles within the past five years talking about how more than a million people in this country do volunteer work every year. The egalitarian spirit still exists, it's just being subjugated by a media that's bought…

City Mission or something, you reckon?

A few years back, I started trying to build Matariki traditions for our family, and one of them is making a special effort to donate a significant (to our budget) amount of food to the City Mission foodbank, because it's about sharing food. Also…

Look out for collection bins in community centres and the such. Full list of locations here.

cool, thanks Gio.

(and oh noes! I spelt your name wrong earlier! sorry!)

Do you have any more details Sue? Like where to take the books to and when and stuff?

Look out for collection bins in community centres and the such. Full list of locations here.

Journos are also letting Key and others give examples of $50k salaries as if that is "average"

Everyone is going on like this is some sort of inexplicable lapse, or out of touch oversight.

But really, when you live in one of the most unequal societies in the world, the…

In wellington please donate books to the DCM bookfair

Do you have any more details Sue? Like where to take the books to and when and stuff?

Not just that, his opener example as a young couple, both on $50k.

He must have meant "average white couple, tertiary educated, graduated several years ago, working their way up some corporate ladder, no children or other dependents." Must be a gay couple, given that a woman would earn significantly…

Not just that, his opener example as a young couple, both on $50k.

Can that be satirised?

Journos are also letting Key and others give examples of $50k salaries as if that is "average"

Not just that, his opener example as a young couple, both on $50k.

Webweaver, your skills are valuable too – can I interest you in some pro-bono work for a good cause?

Let's talk! Email me!

Walk to your nearest soup kitchen. They seriously need your cash.

Or if you're desperate and jobless, and want to keep the 'jealous masses' in check...

Unless our economy has grown at a phenomenal rate in the last 12 months – and isn't the Budget predicated on no such thing? – the median individual income from all sources is about $28k/year, and the mean is ~$36k.
The only way I can find an "average wage" that…

City Mission or something, you reckon?

They had to do an extra unscheduled collection just last week. So you know they need it.

"there are clever ways to not pay as much tax via setting up trusts??" who knew?

Most people in the top tax bracket who have an accountant with anything resembling a pulse, from my experience. Which, admittedly, isn't all of them.

Walk to your nearest soup kitchen. They seriously need your cash.

Yeah I was thinking about that. City Mission or something, you reckon?

Now I just need to figure out what charity or charities I would do the most good giving my tax cut money to. Seriously.

Walk to your nearest soup kitchen. They seriously need your cash.

I completely believe in paying taxes -…

The fact they didn't do that suggests that delivering that enormous windfall was a core goal. This was about delivering to their donors.

I actually don't think the politics are that stupid. I remember some piece of evidence about tax cuts to uber-rich people. Despite the fact that 99.9% of…

It seems that the whole underlying premise of this budget (and many others before it) is: 'What tax cuts can we give to make us more popular?'

Not quite. If popularity was what they were interested in, then they would simply have cut the lower and middle rates and shifted…

...on the midday news yeasterday actually said that 50k was the average income.

they should raise their game!
;- )

What sort of average are they talking about? Mean? Median? Or Made Up?

The latter, looking at Statistics NZ information on income in the June 2009 quarter. Unless our economy has grown at a phenomenal rate in the last 12 months – and isn't the Budget predicated on no such…

Journos are also letting Key and others give examples of $50k salaries as if that is "average" – when it is well above what most New Zealanders bring in, sadly.

Some 3news journo on the midday news yeasterday actually said that 50k was the average income.

Can't work out why…

* Whatever you think of the budget itself we have to admit that it was a masterpiece of media strategy: they got the issue of tax-cuts for the rich out well…

I do have to agree with my fellow plutocrats that eating babies is overrated.

The children of the undeserving poor are so malnourished these days that they are either quite flavourless, or having been fed or a steady diet of junk food since birth, tend to leave a slightly chemical…

I wonder if they factored in the jobs that will continue to be be lost as public sector budgets stay below the rate of inflation and cost increases? Maybe the private sector will hire…

So who's going to be more productive on October 2nd then? All of us, right? And we're all going to make more money straight away yeah? So tax receipts go up? Right? Guys?

F**kin' stepchanges, how do they work?

(Poss NSFW for language, obviously)

There is this ridiculous portrayal of tax as something evil that must be minimised. Whereas the truth is tax is what we as a society agree to pay to the government to allow the government to do things we can't effectively do ourselves

Gordon Campbell makes the excellent point that…

I forget if there is a preparation method.

Ah, I see what you did there....

I'd also point out that it's been tried before

Doing the same thing and expecting different results ... isn't that definition of something or other...

If as a society decide we want and need better health care then increasing taxation to achieve that is the right and proper thing to do.

To be fair, though: Rob might respond that cutting taxes is the way to increase tax receipts, and Treasury projects that this will happen…

The children of the undeserving poor are so malnourished these days that they are either quite flavourless, or having been fed or a steady diet of junk food since birth, tend to leave a slightly chemical…

It is complete nonsense to argue we should try and reduce tax when the evidence of the last century is that those nations that embraced the value of tax and the benefits of government spending are the nations with the best standard of living.

With the exception of Singapore? Although…

what happened to the Black Robin Egg Omelette?

Don't they only go black if you overcook them?

That's the difficulty. If you get them wrong they taste bitter. My personal Michelin-rated chef says the secret is in to sprinkle a little gold dust into the mixture before you heat it.

There is this ridiculous portrayal of tax as something evil that must be minimised. Whereas the truth is tax is what we as a society agree to pay to the government to allow the government to do things we can't effectively do ourselves. eg pay for…

Edit: and that sounds sort of patronising, but hopefully you'll forgive my poor vocab.

For years my accountant has been trying to sell me on various ways to avoid paying tax…

For me, lower taxes is not the end objective, but creating a society that respects and provides for those less well off is what we should be aiming for.

I dispute that it's just the less well off who benefit. Suppose you found that your child was autistic: even if…

I didn't put it that way, PJ did

But you laughed!

Look, I'm not trying to pick fights, just expressing dismay. And it's been a very long week of dealing with the aforementioned public services, so the disconnect between the commentary and reality seems particularly strident.

Eating babies is just so last year. Pickled kakapo is the only dish for the serious connoisseur.

what happened to the Black Robin Egg Omelette?

No, because these people, the non-aspirational, are the problem. They're not getting rich and wonderful. They're not people, in the sense that media needs people it can identify with.

can we have their oxygen then, please...

those guys working on converting sewerage to biodiesel are smart cookies.

converting pipes n…

Pickled kakapo is the only dish for the serious connoisseur.

Guess I'm not up there with the great and the good then. I prefer simpler fare, such as tuatara eggs on a bed of Cyathea dealbata – obviously served by the poor (when they're not too busy rorting the welfare…

Anyway, I did a good job of deflecting aye? You can tell me to fuck off now too if it makes you feel better. I'm just waiting for Craig to do the same.

Why I am a conservative.

There is no virtue in compulsory government charity, and there is no virtue in advocating it. A politician who portrays himself as caring and sensitive because he wants to expand the government's charitable programs is merely saying that he is willing to…

He'll get a shiny thruppence if he does a good job.

I hope you can claim back the GST.

Also I assume the little one is going to issue a proper invoice, and that this thruppence is going to go through their accounts? I'd hate to see them avoiding paying…

better start toughening the wee man up for a life of productive work to pay it all back. he's only 18months, but he'll likely start needing to be at work by the time he's 8 or 10.

I have a chimney that's desperately in need of a clean, especially with…

That's not up to your usual standard, although I expect you were being a little ironic?

Not at all. And I was quoting more or less verbatim from PJ O'Rourke, who ought to know.

It's a core conservative belief: that all people are bastards.

But I thought that conservatives think that lefties think (stay with me here) that all people are bastards, because we don't trust people enough to assume that in the event of the removal of the welfare system they'll give a…

Those on $150,000 are, rarely, working by the hour, sure some may charge billable hours but those hours are so ridiculously expensive they cant work the 9 to 5 shift without embarrassment, so they have long working lunches and expense accounts to ease the pain. Poor dears.

You forgot the…

It's a core conservative belief: that all people are bastards.

That's not up to your usual standard, although I expect you were being a little ironic? I can see how this is personal for you, and I…

After 6 years of working towards a qualification (combined with beginning a family), next year is pegged for the final push (full time study for 18 months). I'll not have the time to do any paid work while doing the course. We'll be paying for 52 hrs a week ECE…

Oh and Craig, right back at you – in fact, fuck right off.

Thanks, Gio — the contempt is entirely mutual. Now, don't go getting all over-emotional and shoot someone in the head (since we're trading offensively mindless caricatures).

I'd like to do that. I've got interest from others. Haven't actually put any work into it yet, but this is part of my plan for 2011.

Would love to know if and when you do so I can join the fun. I'm sure I can serve the tea…

The nation voted Tory. That means I have to put up with that decision.

Well, I suppose you have a point. The producers of Morning Report must agree with you since they got "our" Rob Hosking and Fran O' to provide balanced commentary just now. You wouldn't want to have…

those guys working on converting sewerage to biodiesel are smart cookies.

Assuming you are talking about that crowd of shysters in Marlborough, their claims are a load of old clarts and their system is very small scale, inefficient and expensive.

Algal fuels will only become a viable alternative to fossil…

I thought that part of National's cunning plan was to equalise the top personal rate and the company rate, it has been reduced from 8% to 5%, but that is still quite a gap.

That's what stood out for me. Yeah sure National is going to cut taxes, this is…

Where did they announce this?

It's all on the Ministry site

looks a lot like they'll be able to supply the majority of the nation's trucking needs off our poo.

land transport isn't really the worry with peak oil (IMHO), it's plastics. and jet fuel.

It's a core conservative belief: that all people are bastards.

Just you, dear.

Well it was a very clear election promise that they were going to introduce it, unlike the 'No increase in GST' that we heard from the Nats at the last election.

Mike: I'm afraid I've been away from the television this evening. Anyone ask Goff whether Labour will be cutting…

"In the end I had to carry out wider responsibilities, but I think I'm fundamentally a nice guy, but have to follow instructions," he says.

Not that people on a salary of $150,000 give a shit about "working an extra hour". That only motivates little people, who actually need money...

I too will be interested to see the employment effect of this little disaster

Will have to find more time tomorrow, but saw cycleway maestro Key claiming Treasury projecting 190,000 new jobs as a result of all the "growth" caused by cutting rich people's tax (or is it the socking…

And does anyone know the source for Cunliffe's 5.9% inflation claim? It seems beyond belief. Usually RBNZ would be all over it, but since I'm overseas I might have missed something.

The BEFU. These are treasury's numbers, not Cunliffe's.

Historically, the working wage was sufficient to support a stay-at-home parent, almost always the mother. New Zealand had full employment. The DPB was introduced to support those few mothers who did not have a man supporting them.

And basically, we've been scammed out of a person's worth of time.

I…

peak oil (which WILL have happened by 2040)

happened last year didn't it?

Where did they announce this?

Don't be silly, that would make them look weak, especially Tolley the decider. Media will realise it tomorrow, though no doubt it will be spun to death as well.

I thought that part of National's cunning plan was to equalise the top personal rate and the company rate, it has been reduced from 8% to 5%, but that is still quite a gap.

So, the rich get to cheat on their lower taxes. Wonderful.

The only solace I find in this budget is that they are going back on last year's budget announcement on cutting $45 million from the teacher staffing budget. This will no longer happen.

Where did they announce this?

The man behind the tree in this case is the national equity we managed to build up despite the constant clamouring for tax…

there's nothing substantive in this budget to address climate change.

Heh. Our glorious minister for the trucking lobby was on the radio the other day talking about transport policy thirty years from now as if we'll never even run short of oil. If National can't come to terms with peak…

It seems like you think most people are really venal, but I'm not sure that they are. At least I'm not.

It's a core conservative belief: that all people are bastards. Of course if you happen to be a bastard it's probably something of a consolation. At any rate, it's…

And yet Vernon Small tells us that the budget is "impressive" and "stunning" budget for debt reduction.

GLARE.

FISK: ON.

hmmm?

garth, little word with you on some white-collar crime? hmmm?

the suspension of payments to the super fund
note these have now been extended another two years to 2018
Nice of them to choose to not save for our retirement.

Well at least it also makes comparing our tax burden by suggesting we have super covered is a joke! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10644470…

or american.

Well, the one thing that consoles me is that we're not racking up huge debts to pay for military adventures and shiny new fighter jets. Clark bought a few new expensive things, and the occupation of Afghanistan costs us something, but for the most part they keep things…

I wish PAS had been around when Dr Cullen introduced the 39 cent rate back in 2000. No doubt it would have been cheers and beers all around.

I was above the 39% threshold then, as I am now, and I thought it was a good idea. It seems like…

Interestingly, when using the tax calculator linked to earlier, the difference in 'weekly income' clawed back for my partner and myself from the tax cut between this year while I'm earning ~$13K and next year when i'll be earning $0 is ~$1.50 a week. Why is this?

I don't want…

Unless you're Greek, you can't run up continued spending with an ever-shrinking tax base.

or american.

seems like the grasshopper generation are voting themselves deferred debts pretty much world-wide.

better start toughening the wee man up for a life of productive work to pay it all back. he's only 18months,…

Remember if you defraud the country and you are well paid it is unfairness that means you need a tax cut!

If you…

Meantime – it's a wonder Terry Seripisos hasn't been interviewed by the msm

What will it take for these people to notice the invisible? A Baader-Meinhof Group?

No, because these people, the non-aspirational, are the problem. They're not getting rich and wonderful. They're not people, in the sense that media needs people it can identify with.

What will it take for these people to notice the invisible? A Baader-Meinhof Group?

So, what Julie is really saying is that since she wants to pay more tax, everyone else has to as well?

No, she's saying that she reckons that people in her tax bracket *ought to* pay more tax. Not that hard a concept to grasp, I would have thought.

How did people cope in all the generations before that particular Labour bribe anyway?

Historically, the working wage was sufficient to support a stay-at-home parent, almost always the mother. New Zealand had full employment. The DPB was introduced to support those few mothers who did not have a man supporting…

I wish PAS had been around when Dr Cullen introduced the 39 cent rate back in 2000. No doubt it would have been cheers and beers all around.

Well it was a very clear election promise that they were going to introduce it, unlike the 'No increase in GST' that…

will be interesting to see how many parents are forced out of work by the cuts to childhood education subsidies.

one of my workmates has decided against more children for that very reason.

pity you can't just let the little fckers out to roam around a paddock like you can…

So, what Julie is really saying is that since she wants to pay more tax, everyone else has to as well. I can see how well that line of argument will work.

It actually works quite well in many places actually. And it used to work here. What people "actually"…

funded by pretending tomorrow will never come.

Does anybody know of a lobby group for the taxpayers of 2035 or similar? Seriously – a media-savvy group that could actually point out the implications of policy and tax decisions for any 30 year old who actually intends to still be around…

"The rich people don't pay taxes. There's an old saying in Greece – the more money you steal the better off you are. If you steal a few euros, a few hundred euros you go to jail ... you steal thousands of euros,…

I think John Key is the token leftie in the discussion.

Palm Nth woman – defrauded WINZ of $39,000 – sentence: 8 months jail (2010)

Southland couple – defrauded WINZ of $38,000+ – sentence: 8 months jail (2007)

Where is the justice?

(And since our media mistake "being fair and balanced" with "having no historical memory" the electorate needs to go through an injection of these policies every decade or so. Until they go – ah, yes, that's why we rejected them last time around!)

However, the continual march away from public…

It is the same formula – a magical belief in the power of tax cuts, funded by pretending tomorrow will never come.

some call it Parnell, others Hawaii

Don't be hatin the rich. When there are more rich people paying less tax we're all better off, no matter what our incomes

It's a nice world Key lives in

some call it Parnell, others Hawaii

but no one calls it Helensville

It's a nice world Key lives in

some call it Parnell, others Hawaii

take note

I shall.