Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Liar, liar your credibility is on fire, John Key...


Liar, liar your credibility is on fire, John Key...


His sudden loss of memory when discussing his and his family trust shares in Tranzrail was nothing but unadulterated lies. So he is sorry? Yeah right!

Some traction for Labour and the smaller left of centre political parties? Perhaps, but you can't rely on or have faith in the political polls these days. If the polls were reliable there shouldn't be more than 5% between National and Labour.

Most of the other news of the week was insignificant. Whatever you may think, nothing has been proven against Winston yet.

The storm in a teacup between the Maori Party's Pita Sharples and the Labour Party is irrelevant.

Actually a Maori Television poll showed Maori flocking back to Labour, so I don't know why the Maori Party think they will get all Maori seats this time - they may just keep the two seats of their co-leaders Turiana Turia and Pita Sharples.

Christchurch and Wellington voters have flocked back to Labour too - great for the party vote!

The election is centred on the Auckland region. National won't have the seats to govern alone, they will need a coalition partner - this is where the party vote will be so vital. Labour has a number of potential coalition partners, National has only the Act Party, now that NZ First has been rejected!

Helen clark has a great chance of getting her fourth term,and deservedly so; Go Helen you beauty!!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Do you believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus? Why believe current political polls...


Do you believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus? Why believe current political polls? I don't!


It is hard to place any credence on political polls when two completely unconnected polls show over 7% difference in what National is polling.

One poll shows 18% difference between National and Labour in a head to head poll. 11% could be halved in one poll closer to the election. National could still have the most seats but not a big enough majority to win the elections. Labour has ready made possible coalition partners in the Greens, NZ First and other minor parties, and National doesn't. The Maori Party will never support National because they know most of their members vote Labour for the party vote - if they did Maori Party support in the future would probably collapse.

A recent Maori Television poll showed Maori voters are swinging back to Labour in very large numbers.

Don't trust those sort of polls? Why would you believe National was 18% ahead of Labour? Believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus too? They have absolutely no credibility whatsoever!

Monday, September 15, 2008

National's ham-fisted attacks against the neutrality of public service.....


The Government is accusing National of trying to bully the Auckland District Health Board.

National's health spokesman Tony Ryall wrote a letter to the DHB warning of significant political issues should it promote activities associated with the Government.

Health Minister David Cunliffe describes that as a ham-fisted assault on the neutrality of the public service and a craven act of political interference. He says John Key should get Mr Ryall to apologise for his blatant attempt to bully the DHB.

However, National's health spokesman Tony Ryall says he has received information which suggests the DHB may go beyond the rules in acting independently. He says there is a big difference between informing the public and proactively spinning news to make Labour look good. Mr Ryall says DHBs should be spending the public's money on frontline services for patients and not PR departments.



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Sunday, September 14, 2008

Helen Clark has announced the NZ elections on NOvember 8 2008 - and "Clueless" John Key wouldn't have a clue...


Helen Clark, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, has announced that the New Zealand parliamentary elections will be held on November 8 2008.

And John Key the "Clueless" Leader of the opposition wouldn't have a clue. Talk about the Emperor having no clothes; that is the understatement of the century!

The latest polls that continue to see National moving ahead are not really worth the money it costs to run them. Actually Labour has only lost 2 pts since the last poll, and as Helen Clark said, if that is the worst thing that can happen with the fallout from the Winston Peters episode, then nobody should worry too much.

Well it is onwards and upwards from now on. Rally the troops and drive the "Clueless Sassanachs" back to the swamps they emerged from. LOL

NZ Government blew the whistle on the baby formula contamination in China...


Helen Clark says her government blew the whistle on the baby milk formula contamination in China.

The Prime Minister says she learned of the problem just over a week ago. She received a briefing paper at her home on Friday September 5 and convened a special meeting with officials and ministers on Monday.

Instructions were then given to New Zealand's ambassador in China to tell officials there our government was extremely concerned there had been no action to recall the product. Ms Clark says that was then done. She understands a general concern was first raised with the New Zealand embassy in China in the middle of August. It had gathered enough information by the end of the month to raise the matter with Wellington.

Meanwhile, Fonterra officials are refusing to front up over the scandal.

The Sanlu Group makes the powder, being blamed for causing kidney stones which has resulted in one death and over 400 being made ill. The company has confirmed the toxin melamine was found in the powder, and has since halted production.

Fonterra has only issued a four paragraph statement saying it was advised of the contamination in August and had pushed for a full public recall of all affected milk powder. It says company representatives are seeking a meeting with the Chinese Government and will assist with the investigation.



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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

National only party that will increse taxes, not reduce them...


10 September 2008 - National is the only party that will go in to this year's election promising to increase taxes, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton said today.

He said National's pledge to cut the tax credit for research and development would take as much as two hundred million dollars out of innovation when it is sorely needed.

"After all their rhetoric, it almost beggars belief that national is planning to increase tax for our most innovative companies and industries," Jim Anderton said.

"National's policy is explicitly to penalise businesses for doing research and development - but research and development is exactly what New Zealand needs more of to lift New Zealand's living standards.

"No other tax measure is as important for strengthening New Zealand's economy.

"No party other than National is promising to increase taxes on business - or on anyone else for that matter."

What do you think of that?

Monday, September 8, 2008

Glen due at the Privileges Committee meeting...


Helen Clark will make up her own mind without any unwanted comments from John Key who should discipline his own party. The party beginning to go down the gurgler!


No transcripts or correspondence appear to exist from a meeting between the Prime Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters over party funding issues.

The pair met on July 29 and Mr Peters assured Helen Clark neither he, nor his party, had received a donation from Monaco-based businessman Owen Glenn. Miss Clark also sought assurances that laws had not been broken.

In response to an Official Information Act request, the Prime Minister's office says no transcript of the meeting exists. It also says it has never received any correspondence from Mr Peters, or his party, regarding donations they had received, the operation of the Spencer Trust, or the $100,000 businessman Owen Glenn donated towards Winston Peters legal bills in 2005.

Mr Glenn is due to appear before Parliament's Privileges Committee today to give evidence about his donation. The New Zealand Herald reports him as saying he is just here to clear his name.

"I just want to get rid of it and get on with my life."

Mr Glenn has already provided two letters to the committee saying Mr Peters personally asked him for the donation and then thanked him for it.



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Monday, September 1, 2008

Marlborough winegrowers accused of mistreating foreign labour...


Marlborough winegrowers are being accused of putting the seasonal work scheme in jeopardy.

Growers says while the policy of employing people from the Pacific region has helped to solve a shortage of workers, the associated costs are too high. Growers claim they have to pay half their workers' airfares and in some cases, have to wash their clothes because the employees do not know how to use modern appliances.

Helen Kelly from the Council Of Trade Unions says in light of recent stories about the appalling treatment of the workers, the growers' calls for more support are outrageous. She says the scheme was set up to support the horticultural industry at a time of labour shortage and employers need to measure up. Ms Kelly alleges some wine makers are charging exorbitant rates and deducting all sorts of costs from workers' wages to boost profits.

Up to 5,000 workers from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu can come to New Zealand on seasonal annual permits to work in horticulture and viticulture jobs.


If employers want to use overseas labour, they should stick to their agreements and treat their employees in the same way they would have to treat New Zealanders. If it is true they are treating their employers badly, it is despicable and they should be excluded from such schemes in the future.




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