National risks alienating public - ready to fall flat on its ass...
Political commentator Graeme Hunt says the National Party is in a honeymoon period at the moment but risks alienating voters
The National Party is being warned it risks alienating the public. It comes in response to accusations from Phil Goff that political deals the party's doing with the Maori Party, are jeopardising good race relations. Mr Goff made his comments in TVNZ's Q&A programme this morning.
Political commentator Graeme Hunt says the National Party is in a honeymoon period at the moment, with record popularity. He says John Key is using MMP to his advantage, even though he is not a fan of it.
Mr Hunt says that is all very well to achieve harmony, but wonders at what cost, long-term, to public policy. He says issues of tax and fairness are what New Zealanders will weigh up down the track.
Mr Hunt also says the National Party is merely continuing a trend started by Labour, and Mr Goff's claims are "a bit rich". Mr Hunt says if we look at the sweetheart deals Labour entered into in the past 50-odd years to woo the Maori vote, what National is doing is simply continuing that trend.
Acknowledgements:© 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Twenty five cents an hour increase under the rusty lock and Key administration...
Gee Mr John Key,sir! Just think of the effort and stress you endured sitting in your four million dollar home in Auckland, making that decision to increase the average wage by 25 cents an hour.
Come on you worthless cur! You are a chip off the Bolger/Shipley government mould of 1990-99 who averaged a 14% increase in the average wage during those nine years.
Compare that with those "socialists" in the Clark government of 1999-2008 who averaged a 75% increase in the average wage during that memorial nine years.
Remenber Selwyn Toogood's "Money or the bag" radio and TV show a couple of decades ago? Definately the bag in this case!
Come on you worthless cur! You are a chip off the Bolger/Shipley government mould of 1990-99 who averaged a 14% increase in the average wage during those nine years.
Compare that with those "socialists" in the Clark government of 1999-2008 who averaged a 75% increase in the average wage during that memorial nine years.
Remenber Selwyn Toogood's "Money or the bag" radio and TV show a couple of decades ago? Definately the bag in this case!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Claims that worst killers not covered under proposed three strikes legislation...
Claims that worst killers not covered under three strikes law...
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The proposed three-strikes law would have saved murder victims like Urban Hoglin and Heidi Paakkonen back in 1989. A proposed three strikes law would have done nothing to prevent some of New Zealand's most notorious killings, critics say.
The new legislation, to be introduced with the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill, will see a criminal convicted of a third qualifying offence jailed for the maximum term, without the possibility of parole.
Under the law, a life sentence - imposed for murder and manslaughter - would mean just that.
But none of the country's 20 worst murderers - those handed among the longest jail sentences in New Zealand history - would have been stopped by the proposed legislation, the Weekend Herald has learned.
And that includes four of the worst:
William Bell, who is serving a minimum 30 years for the Mt Wellington triple murders of 2001, double killer Graeme Burton, convicted rapist and murderer Liam Reid, and prison-van killer George Charlie Baker.
The Corrections Department has confirmed none of them - despite extensive criminal histories, including in the case of Burton more than 100 previous convictions - had committed earlier offences that would have put them in the three strikes category.
Acknowledgements: MSN News
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The proposed three-strikes law would have saved murder victims like Urban Hoglin and Heidi Paakkonen back in 1989. A proposed three strikes law would have done nothing to prevent some of New Zealand's most notorious killings, critics say.
The new legislation, to be introduced with the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill, will see a criminal convicted of a third qualifying offence jailed for the maximum term, without the possibility of parole.
Under the law, a life sentence - imposed for murder and manslaughter - would mean just that.
But none of the country's 20 worst murderers - those handed among the longest jail sentences in New Zealand history - would have been stopped by the proposed legislation, the Weekend Herald has learned.
And that includes four of the worst:
William Bell, who is serving a minimum 30 years for the Mt Wellington triple murders of 2001, double killer Graeme Burton, convicted rapist and murderer Liam Reid, and prison-van killer George Charlie Baker.
The Corrections Department has confirmed none of them - despite extensive criminal histories, including in the case of Burton more than 100 previous convictions - had committed earlier offences that would have put them in the three strikes category.
Acknowledgements: MSN News
Ratana welcomes Key, but not told about massive increase in unemployment...
Ratana welcomes National with open arms but not sure of who they were welcoming, maybe...
Prime Minister John Key has received a warm welcome at Ratana celebrations, drawing thanks from the movement's leadership
There has been a strong endorsement of the National Party by those at Ratana today.
The Prime Minister and other National MPs are the first politicians to take part in the event celebrating the birthday of prophet TW Ratana.
During the welcoming speeches at the Ratana Marae, Minister Joe Everitt told John Key Ratana leadership simply wants to thank him and his party for all their work - and drew laughs with this comment:
"In the short time that you have been in power you've done so much more than what others have done for the Maori Party ... oh ... for the Maori people."
He told John Key he recalls giving him a shopping list this time last year of what Ratana followers expected from National.
"That if there were any laws for my Maori people that you are going to change, do make sure that you talk to all the Maori people. You've fulfilled that John - ka pai."
Mr Key told the crowd improving race relations and the mana of the foreshore and seabed are high on the Government's agenda. He says today's visit to Ratana has been a success and he is going home happy. But he never told them of the massive increase in unemployment, did he?
Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Prime Minister John Key has received a warm welcome at Ratana celebrations, drawing thanks from the movement's leadership
There has been a strong endorsement of the National Party by those at Ratana today.
The Prime Minister and other National MPs are the first politicians to take part in the event celebrating the birthday of prophet TW Ratana.
During the welcoming speeches at the Ratana Marae, Minister Joe Everitt told John Key Ratana leadership simply wants to thank him and his party for all their work - and drew laughs with this comment:
"In the short time that you have been in power you've done so much more than what others have done for the Maori Party ... oh ... for the Maori people."
He told John Key he recalls giving him a shopping list this time last year of what Ratana followers expected from National.
"That if there were any laws for my Maori people that you are going to change, do make sure that you talk to all the Maori people. You've fulfilled that John - ka pai."
Mr Key told the crowd improving race relations and the mana of the foreshore and seabed are high on the Government's agenda. He says today's visit to Ratana has been a success and he is going home happy. But he never told them of the massive increase in unemployment, did he?
Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Three strikes policy will probably not have much of an impact on crime figures...
Three strikes policy will deter criminals from committing further crimes says Police...
Police Minister Judith Collins admits the proposed three strikes policy is harsh, but believes it is warranted. I doubt if it will have much of an impact on crime figures. It may put more serious criminals behind bars for longer thats all..
Under the deal between the National Party and Act, the judge will have to impose the maximum sentence for the crime when an offender is convicted of a third serious offence. Parole will not be an option when a person is convicted of a second or third serious offence.
Ms Collins says by keeping the worst repeat offenders behind bars for longer and deterring criminals from committing further crimes, New Zealand will be a better and safer place.
"The regime will be harsh, but only for the small number of people in our community that show continued and complete disregard for the law and contempt of society."
Garth McVicar from the Sensible Sentencing Trust welcomes the tougher stance.
"They commit an offence, they get sentenced to a minimum sentence, they get out and they reoffend and they go back in again, so they're just being recycled time and time again. This is going to ensure that they don't get out as quickly and there will be fewer victims as a consequence.
?I realize the naysayers and liberals will be highly critical of this law but in reality this is self inflicted, they have no-one else to blame, they are simply getting their just desserts?.
But Labour's Phil Goff claims the policy will not work.
"This will result in about 12 people a year being locked up. Compare that with 8,500 people already in prison. This isn't going to make a great deal of difference, if any, to public security and safety."
Mr Goff says the existing law already provides judges with the ability to refuse recidivist criminals parole and give them longer sentences.
Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Police Minister Judith Collins admits the proposed three strikes policy is harsh, but believes it is warranted. I doubt if it will have much of an impact on crime figures. It may put more serious criminals behind bars for longer thats all..
Under the deal between the National Party and Act, the judge will have to impose the maximum sentence for the crime when an offender is convicted of a third serious offence. Parole will not be an option when a person is convicted of a second or third serious offence.
Ms Collins says by keeping the worst repeat offenders behind bars for longer and deterring criminals from committing further crimes, New Zealand will be a better and safer place.
"The regime will be harsh, but only for the small number of people in our community that show continued and complete disregard for the law and contempt of society."
Garth McVicar from the Sensible Sentencing Trust welcomes the tougher stance.
"They commit an offence, they get sentenced to a minimum sentence, they get out and they reoffend and they go back in again, so they're just being recycled time and time again. This is going to ensure that they don't get out as quickly and there will be fewer victims as a consequence.
?I realize the naysayers and liberals will be highly critical of this law but in reality this is self inflicted, they have no-one else to blame, they are simply getting their just desserts?.
But Labour's Phil Goff claims the policy will not work.
"This will result in about 12 people a year being locked up. Compare that with 8,500 people already in prison. This isn't going to make a great deal of difference, if any, to public security and safety."
Mr Goff says the existing law already provides judges with the ability to refuse recidivist criminals parole and give them longer sentences.
Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Monday, January 18, 2010
Three stikes for serious crimes only...
Three strikes and you are out? Yeah right! Just more of that watered down legislation we have come to expect from this watered down government. Just get John Key to give one of his dopey grins and evrything should be alright.
It now applies only to capital type crimes of murder, rapes, serious assaults etc. If it had applied across the board as suggested by right wing election campaigners, new prisons would have to be built to accomodate such criminals.
It now applies only to capital type crimes of murder, rapes, serious assaults etc. If it had applied across the board as suggested by right wing election campaigners, new prisons would have to be built to accomodate such criminals.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Key getting out of touch with electorate...
Key getting out of touch with electorate...
Prime Minister John Key has ruled out a minimum wage increase to $15 this year despite 61 per cent of New Zealanders supporting the hike in a recent survey.
The New Zealand Herald surveyed 2300 people on the issue: 3.5 per cent of respondents said the minimum should be lower than the current $12.50 an hour, 30.5 per cent thought it should remain unchanged, 61 per cent thought it should go up and 5 per cent did not have an opinion.
About 100,000 workers receive the minimum wage, which is reviewed every year and Cabinet is expected to make a decision shortly whether to increase it.
Mr Key said the issue was not on tomorrow's Cabinet agenda but would be discussed "fairly soon".
"The Government has always tried to be fair. We recognise there are about 100,000 people who earn the minimum wage, I think it's important they are able to make ends meet as best possible, but also there's got to be a recognition that where there are increases in wages that they have to be paid for - we don't want to be threatening people's jobs so there's a balancing act here and that's what the Cabinet will consider," he told Newstalk ZB.
"It won't be $15 in this particular round, that would be an increase of $2.50... and that would just be too significant a hike."
Acknowledgements: MSN News
Prime Minister John Key has ruled out a minimum wage increase to $15 this year despite 61 per cent of New Zealanders supporting the hike in a recent survey.
The New Zealand Herald surveyed 2300 people on the issue: 3.5 per cent of respondents said the minimum should be lower than the current $12.50 an hour, 30.5 per cent thought it should remain unchanged, 61 per cent thought it should go up and 5 per cent did not have an opinion.
About 100,000 workers receive the minimum wage, which is reviewed every year and Cabinet is expected to make a decision shortly whether to increase it.
Mr Key said the issue was not on tomorrow's Cabinet agenda but would be discussed "fairly soon".
"The Government has always tried to be fair. We recognise there are about 100,000 people who earn the minimum wage, I think it's important they are able to make ends meet as best possible, but also there's got to be a recognition that where there are increases in wages that they have to be paid for - we don't want to be threatening people's jobs so there's a balancing act here and that's what the Cabinet will consider," he told Newstalk ZB.
"It won't be $15 in this particular round, that would be an increase of $2.50... and that would just be too significant a hike."
Acknowledgements: MSN News
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