Posts by Hilary Stace
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
This is nothing compared with the late 1980s. For years the Labour Party tore itself to pieces. Halls full of people shouting at each other. People who had been on the same side of the barricades in 1981 nursed an active and long lasting hatred of their former allies. No wonder so many people are still fighting those battles.
I was amused today when one of those young journalists tweeted a photo of himself in 1990 as a baby. Seems amazing that there are adults around today for whom that era is mere history.
-
It would have been much more pleasant and cleaner if David Cunliffe had stood down after the election and a new leadership team quickly put in place. Then the focus could have quickly gone back on fighting the Government. It is unfortunate in many ways that this didn't happen. Mainly because there are some frustrated people in the Labour Party now flinging barbs in all directions. This is particularly unpleasant because many of them have spent much of their energy and time for the last few months working for a common cause - the LP - one way or another. Now they are angry and bruised and raw. James Dann has been the target of some nasty stuff for writing this post - which is so unfair.
I think it is human nature to have your biggest battles with those you are closest to and have most in common with (like families!). Some of the most vicious fights I have observed have been on school boards or community groups with people who have also chosen to send their children to that school or have joined that community group because of similar and shared interests.
Conflict can be healthy and democratic so long as there are processes that are deemed to be fair and there is a way to make up and be allies again later. So it is probably best not to be too violent as we might need to be friends again soon.
-
This is all so 1990. The third Labour Party leader in three years (Mike Moore) makes a less than conciliatory election night speech after a disastrous election result. The new leader-in-waiting (Helen Clark) is attacked from all sides. While the LP is distracted the new National Government immediately repeals pay equity legislation, hurries the pace of Rogernomics and within a year rolls out the mother-of-all-Budgets.
-
Is David Shearer back from the UN yet? His peacekeeping skills would come in handy just now.
-
There is a little bit of ageism creeping in to this discussion. Just because some MPs are in their 60s (and Trevor Mallard is only just 60) it doesn't mean they are necessarily past it. In other professions or cultures they would be seen as wise mentors. If they can still muster large and supportive electorate teams and are active and experienced advocates for their constituents why do they have to be pushed out? Trevor has recently been an extremely helpful advocate for one of his constituents on a disability issue I have been involved with. Something that utilised his considerable community knowledge. Ditto I refer locals to Annette King and her office as they are likely to get problems sorted.
Age is just part of the diversity of life. Also voters over 60 are highly likely to vote. -
Several years ago I went to a talk by Colin James. He has been watching and writing about NZ politics for decades. In response to a question from the audience he gave his candid and neutral opinion (he doesn't vote) that the next generational shift in the Labour Party leadership would be with a Robertson/Ardern ticket. Neither had even been in Parliament long by then, but he must have spotted their potential. The next question was the inevitable one about Grant being gay. I recall his answer being along the lines that it was probably more of an issue for the questioner than the country.
-
The Fabians is a great organisation. It has kept the focus on important issues like inequality and redistributive economic policy for the last couple of years with regular free talks in Wellington. Serious, informed stuff. They had hundreds at Nicky Hagar's talk a few weeks ago. All run by a few dedicated people. Worth supporting.
-
Hard News: Five further thoughts, in reply to tussock,
Helen Kelly of the CTU has been collecting job ads for the industry. Some very long shifts/days on to time off and she has calculated that many would pay below the minimum wage. I think employment conditions currently have to be assessed on a weekly basis. As part of the new employment laws (the ones that didn't get passed at the end of the session but are now top of the pile) the minimum wage and labour conditions can be calculated over a longer period. I'm not sure about the details but the trend is for longer work hours without breaks.
-
Lots of cows are fed palm kernel these days. Not only is it a by product of an unethical business - killing off the habitat of orang-utans - but it must change the taste and composition of milk. The Lewis Road milk says it is palm kernel free and organic, which probably explains its growing popularity.
-
Thanks, Nicola. Been bothering me too. I touched on the vilification of Mike Joy in a Speaker post a few weeks ago.