Posts by Paul Williams
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Emma, that's certainly my recollection of the 1990s situation though I fear your analysis of the current situation may also be right.
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Really, it has the feel of desperation whereby every word that Key utters is analysed, and where the slightest sniff of any possible error is immediately subject to a deluge of government-linked press releases
I think linger's comment above is an excellent response to this question from Thomas Johnson. The very few unscripted words Key utters on policy are pretty important I'd've thought. For instance, National are forever carping on about emigration to Australia and, I'm suire, loving every quote and story generated so surely they'd expect some scrutiny of their alternative approach (such as it is)? This is the man that wants to be PM, not minute secretary of the local car club. If what he says doesn't matter, what does; his dental work?
Interestingly, if you insert the word "gap" into the oft-quoted statement it may well be less contentious but no more meaningful. How'd he like us to boost our productivity precisely? Boot camps for recalcitrant teenagers?
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Wages only tells you the labour share of productivity - GDP per person in real dollars is often the measure Treasuries use.
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Raymond, the point being made is that even if Key's been misunderstood, firstly he's not often clear about what he does think and secondly he often makes a mess of correcting the record. It's not as if this is the first time he's mis-spoken either; the famous slip-of-the-lip at the conference where he declared his leadership of Labour (perhaps less surprising now given National's tendency to copy policy positions).
David, I remember those times also, though not as well as you, and I do think the situation is markedly different not least of all because the economy is still performing well - particularly if measured in terms of employment.
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But then talk to the ones who moved to Queensland...
You'd be amazed at how many Maori live in Qld. I met an extended community, like 50+, in South Brisbane which is growing rapidly. Each time one or other a Maori-owned company picks up a new contract (mainly construction firms), rather than hiring locals, they recruit from back home!
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I would love to see some proper research done on attitudes to race in NZer's that have moved to Aussie. Not just surveys that ask people if the uppity Maori's getting everything is the reason they moved, but rather something a bit more nuanced about racial attitudes and migration from NZ.
Judging by the number of kiwis you see down at Bondi every Waitangi Day, I suspect the "uppity Maori" has nothing at all to do with people moving west.
In my experience at least, once you emigrate, you better appreciate the values of NZ society including the unique and invaluable contribution Maori have made.
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And Paul, you seem to be affirming what I said rather than the reverse.
I'm not saying you're wrong in all instances Dale, I'm saying that your theory doesn't apply to me. I prefer Simon's approach though, that there's a bit of willful blindness.
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If interested, the story of the rum rebellion is pretty fascinating, check it out here
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Sometimes it seems the basic requirement for migrating to Australia is not to know - and above all, not to want to know - about the political culture that people are heading for. NZ is squeaky clean by comparison.
If Australia is the solution, Helengrad is not the problem.
I think that's pretty reasonable myself. I possibly could have been a little clearer in my post but I did only mean corruption in NSW (many still genuinely believe that the legacy of the 1808 rum rebellion is alive and well) although you could also note the ongoing scandal around disgraced former WA Premier Burke or the legendary corruption of Qld.
Howard's government might not conform to a narrow definition of corruption, but he clearly and repeatedly handed out funding for naked electoral advantage to say nothing of the endless lying that occurred around children overboard or the Wheat Board bribery.
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I've never seen it cited anywhere as a reason for migrating, but from the frequency of posts to other fora stating that they are leaving for Oz to get away from gangs, or from Treaty problems, or Helen Clark's ****ing nanny state, I'd say escape from solving New Zealand's problems is a big spur to some.
Which they then dress up as "weather", "lifestyle", "opportunities" etc (which may also be true of course. Or not.).
This may be true for some Dale, but it is certainly not true for me - in fact, I feel the opposite. I was very active in NZ politics and would never get involved here (certainly not NSW where there is endemic corruption) in part because I don't feel the necessary affinity.