NZ | Politics Thread

[Milan Luka]

So is Banks still around.

Watching the death throws of ACT is quite fascinating but mostly very disturbing.

Giving Rodney Hide the unceremonious boot only to be replaced by been there done that Brash who did so much damage in his short tenure.

I cant fathom how anyone in Auckland though Banks was a viable option for mayor. Seriously unhinged individual. You gotta love dotcom as he puts the boot into his former friend.

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by Milan Luka

So is Banks still around.

Watching the death throws of ACT is quite fascinating but mostly very disturbing.

Giving Rodney Hide the unceremonious boot only to be replaced by been there done that Brash who did so much damage in his short tenure.

I cant fathom how anyone in Auckland though Banks was a viable option for mayor. Seriously unhinged individual. You gotta love dotcom as he puts the boot into his former friend.

Only after Banks gave him the boot too.

I agree with you 100% (and so do most on this forum). Banks was scary and a terrible mayor for Auckland. At least now there is a visionary mayor in place (if fettered by the national government).

[NZ1]

After reading the various articles in paper yesterday, the rate at which Government agency reductions are hitting the so-called "regions" around New Zealand is quite concerning.

I see there are to be an other round of redundancies for IRD staff in various cities. Locally, the number of staff has been reduced to 1/3 of original levels, and with the closure of the prison another 55 staff are losing their jobs. Police administration services have also been affected, with 7 jobs lost locally to move to a centralised service in Palmerston North that serves an area from Napier across to New Plymouth and down to Palmerston North.

With respect to the IRD situation, I've already incurred around one dollars worth of extra bills from accountants as they are having to wait on hold for considerable periods of time, in order to talk to IRD. This situation is only going to get worse.

While I understand that the Government must reduce its costs, it is creating even more costs on individuals and the community who cannot necessarily bear any more. The Government are certainly making a rod for their own back by creating jobs in Auckland (in particular) that is suffering from high costs of living and transportation issues.

[Puuugu]

HA! iThomas, The New World Order is coming! One by one, regions will be forced to amalgamate to be competitive!

[IThomas]

PM details crime reduction plan

image hosted on flickr

Prime Minister John Key has detailed how the Government plans to achieve the "ambitious" target of reducing crime by 15 per cent in the next five years.
Mr Key, speaking in Auckland this morning, said he wants the departments of justice, police, and corrections to work together to achieve a total of 112,000 fewer crimes between now and 2017.
He said there would be no additions to the $3.8 billion in funding, but the reduction in crime would be brought about by "using the money smarter" and rethinking how the departments deal with offenders and victims. "Tight financial times force you to think outside the box," he said.

Minister of Justice Judith Collins said the Reducing Crime and Reoffending Result Action Plan focused on six key areas. "We're going to target high-crime locations, provide strong support for people at risk of repeat victimisation, improve interventions for vulnerable youth, reduce the availability of alcohol, increase availability of alcohol and drug treatment ... and invest in reintegration and rehabilitation of offenders," Ms Collins said.
Ms Collins said savings from the projected crime reductions would be reinvested between the departments to continue to bring that rate down. The goals would see 39,000 fewer crimes and 6500 fewer violent crimes in Auckland by 2017.
Ms Collins said areas like the CBD were where most crimes were committed and police would tailor rosters and staff numbers to "target repeat locations". Half of all crimes (51 per cent) are committed by people under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Ms Collins said reducing the availability of alcohol would be achieved through the Alcohol Reform Bill, which includes making alcohol licenses harder to get, tightening restrictions on the types of places that can sell alcohol, and putting more restrictions on the irresponsible promotion of alcohol.

Licensing laws will set the default opening hours for pubs and clubs to between 8pm and 4am, although local authorities will be given the power to grant venues longer hours if they are applied for. "What we're proposing is that there will be changes to opening hours, that there will be a default position around the country ... but every local authority will be able to set their own opening hours. And that's really important because what we're going to have is local alcohol policies being able to be formulated, so that Auckland might decide that in the city there will be greater opening hours than say in (other suburbs)," Ms Collins said. "I think that will be fantastic for local authorities. They're actually crying out for it."

Mr Key said he believed parliament would pass the split drinking age, which would go further to reducing the availability of alcohol. "If you really want to make a change you've got to change the culture," he said.
There will be emphasis on improving rehabilitation services for people abusing alcohol or drugs, whether they are in custody or in society. Ms Collins denied the crime reduction targets were taking advantage of an already dropping rate. "Crime is a tax on all of us," she said.
More than half the respondents to a recent Herald DigiPoll survey supported a purchasing age of 20 for all types of licensed premises and a further 25 per cent supported raising the age for liquor stores and supermarkets but keeping it at 18 for bars and restaurants. The survey was conducted with alcohol reform legislation that aims to tackle New Zealand's binge-drinking culture, expected to come before Parliament later this month for its final stages.

[IThomas]

Gay marriage gets PM's full support

image hosted on flickr

12 FEB 12 22°C BIG GAY OUT di Urban+Explorer, su Flickr

Prime Minister John Key says he'll vote in favour a bill to allow marriage equality for same-sex couples because it won't impact on his relationship with his wife. Mr Key said on Radio Live he would use a conscience vote to vote in favour of a bill allowing gay and transgender couples to get married. He signalled his support for the bill in its early stages, but said he was unlikely to change his mind over the course of the debate to allow same-sex couples to marry - given it was a conscience vote. "You go through all the merits of the argument and look at what people put up; but my view is that if two gay people want to get married I can't see why it would undermine my marriage with Bronagh," he told Radio Live. "There will be plenty of people in our caucus who will be deeply opposed - particularly the very religious ones, and I can understand that," he said. "I think it's quite healthy that New Zealand has the debate, I suspect it won't be what it was when you looked at homosexual law reform in the'70s - I don't think it will be that dramatic."

Mr Key said the bill was likely to reach select committee stage and he thought there would be a lot of lobbying from those opposed and those in support of the bill. Opponents had mobilised against the bill allowing gay and trans-gender couples to marry. Conservative Party leader Colin Craig said he was planning a campaign on the advantages of heterosexual relationships and traditional family structures. "I am keen to be part of a campaign to get out there on the issue. It would look intelligently at the differences between homosexual parenting and a Mum and a Dad," he said. Mr Craig, whose party received 2.65 per cent of the vote in the general election, had committed part of his personal wealth to battling social policy in the past, such as Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill.

[SYDNEY]

US wants NZ in strategic alliance

New Zealand is of increasing strategic importance to the United States, says a Washington-based expert ahead of the first visit by an American defence secretary since the height of the Cold War. Ernest Bower, of Washington-based think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said the visit was part of a broader push to shore up and improve relations in the Asia-Pacific region. There were also strategic reasons to step up relations with New Zealand, which included its Antarctic assets, its role in the Pacific, and the unique qualities it could bring to the relationship. "New Zealand can bring a lot of special things to the table: Its unique knowledge and engagement in the Pacific; you've brought incredible special forces to the table in fights; and you guys have certain intelligence and technical capabilities that are pretty important to us." But the visit has raised questions about just how close is close. A leading defence analyst, Robert Ayson, says the real question is: "How close to Anzus without actually saying Anzus are we now?" ... MORE

[SYDNEY]

End of US naval ban a 'new era'

In a historic visit, United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has dropped a ban on New Zealand naval ships entering US ports, saying the shift heralds a "new era" in the New Zealand-US relationship. However, the impasse over US ships visiting New Zealand remains. Mr Panetta announced that Washington would drop restrictions on ship visits and remove the requirement to get a waiver before any military talks or exercises. Those restrictions have been in place since New Zealand was suspended from the Anzus Treaty over its anti-nuclear stance in 1985. However, asked about the possibility of a coastguard or other non-nuclear ship visiting New Zealand, Mr Panetta - the first US Defence Secretary to visit since 1982 - said progress was a matter of "one step at a time" ... MORE

[SYDNEY]

China: We want stronger military ties

Military ties between China and New Zealand should become stronger, says China's ambassador to New Zealand, Xu Jianguo. He sees no reason New Zealand's closer relationship with the United States should affect its relationship with China, which he described as "the best ever". Military to military co-operation between China and New Zealand had developed quickly in recent years but most of that had been confined to people to people exchanges, he told the Weekend Herald in an interview this week, through an interpreter. "In future, probably we can seek opportunities in defence exercises, disaster reduction and relief, and non-traditional security issues, things like that." Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who has been talking to visiting United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, agreed there was potential for greater military to military relations with China ... MORE

[SYDNEY]

UK hopes NZ will join sharing initiative

The British Foreign Secretary hopes New Zealand and Australia will join an initiative to share diplomatic missions with Britain and Canada in remote countries. Foreign Secretary William Hague and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird are due to sign an agreement in Ottawa on Monday (Canadian time) to open joint UK-Canadian diplomatic missions abroad. In remote countries where Britain has an embassy and Canada does not, the countries will share the embassy, and vice versa. The Foreign Secretary said the arrangement will give the countries a greater global reach and reduce costs. Mr Hague also hopes that New Zealand and Australia will join the initiative, allowing all four countries to pool their resources. He said it made sense for "first cousins" like Britain and other Commonwealth countries to share embassies ... MORE

[seaphorm]

Originally Posted by NZ1

While I understand that the Government must reduce its costs, it is creating even more costs on individuals and the community who cannot necessarily bear any more. The Government are certainly making a rod for their own back by creating jobs in Auckland (in particular) that is suffering from high costs of living and transportation issues.

the government doesn't really have to reduce costs. our government debt per capita is reasonable (ranked in the mid 90s in the world - right next to australia), and we're quite able to service it. all the global economic situation has done is made it easier for them to make changes based on ideology which they would have made anyway. voters are more accepting of harsh changes if their tv tells them hard times are global and their finance minister says "we don't want to end up like greece".

now private debt on the other hand... the money you and i owe... that's a whole different kettle of fish.

[SYDNEY]

NZ crime rate at all-time low

New Zealand's crime rate has dropped to an all-time low, latest figures reveal. The annual crime statistics released by the police today showed recorded crime dropped 5.2 per cent on the previous year. There were 394,522 recorded offences in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, compared with 416,324 the previous year - a decrease of 21,802 offences. New Zealand's population increased by 0.7 per cent during the period, resulting in a 5.9 per cent decrease in the number of offences recorded per 10,000 of population. This was the lowest number of offences in any fiscal year since 1988-1989, and the lowest crime rate per head of population since before electronic records were maintained, police said. Deputy Police Commissioner Viv Rickard says the results were very pleasing. "These figures indicate that New Zealand is becoming a safer place to live. They will act as further motivation to keep our focus firmly on preventing crime before it happens,'' he said ... MORE

[SYDNEY]

Powerful push for voice at UN's top table

Our diplomats at the United Nations and elsewhere make an astonishing effort to win an occasional temporary seat on the Security Council. Foreign Minister Murray McCully is reported to have held almost 30 meetings with other national delegations in New York at the weekend to push New Zealand's bid. Much as he might enjoy an election campaign and find canvassing for votes a familiar exercise, it was probably not his idea. He would be acting on advice that a seat on the Security Council for two years really counts. We can only wonder why. The Security Council is potentially powerful but to take any action it needs the consent of all five permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. The veto was used most recently by China and Russia to prevent the council imposing sanctions against the Syrian regime. The 10 temporary members are bystanders unless the big five can agree. Since those 10 seats have only a two-year term and incumbents are not eligible for immediate re-election, every country would seem likely to get a turn. The current 10 include Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo ... MORE

[SYDNEY]

Singaporean PM jets in ahead of small economies summit

The depth of bi-lateral ties between New Zealand and Singapore will get emphasis next week with a state visit by the Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong. His second visit since taking office in 2004, it comes just weeks ahead of next month's meeting in Wellington to tap ideas from small, more economically successful nations. The two are also founder members of the group of countries that first proposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. Singapore is New Zealand's 10th biggest export destination with $851 million in the year ended Aug. 31, and fifth-biggest source of imports with an annual $2.22 billion in the same period. Prime Minister John Key last visited Singapore in April and also stressed "a long history of education and defence cooperation" in his statement announcing the visit, along with trade ties. The three day visit, from this Sunday, “provides an ideal opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s close and valued friendship with Singapore and we continue to strengthen our cooperation in a broad range of areas, including science and innovation, where strong collaborative relationships have been developed,” said Key. Senior leaders from the science and innovation sectors in Denmark, Finland, Israel, and Singapore will be in New Zealand next month as part of an initiative by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce to develop a network of small advanced economies. It is hoped the meeting may develop into a network of small advanced economies. “It is intended that each country will contribute senior leaders in the area of science and innovation, as well as in foreign policy and trade policy," Joyce said at the time.

[SYDNEY]

Prince Charles to get Hobbit sneak peek

The Prince of Wales will meet Peter Jackson and get a sneak-preview of the new Hobbit film on his upcoming visit. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit New Zealand from November 10-16 after visits to Papua New Guinea and Australia. The Telegraph reports he will visit Weta Workshop on November 14 - his birthday. "The Prince is a great fan of children's literature and Tolkien is one of the great icons of children's literature," a royal source told the Telegraph. "He and the Duchess have seen Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films and the Prince has said he is very much looking forward to seeing Bilbo Baggins' foot.'' It is reported the Prince will be shown prosthetics and make-up from the films, but he would not meet the actors as the film is in post-production for the November 28 premiere in Wellington. The Prince will celebrate his 64th birthday with 64 other New Zealanders who share his birth date. The 64 New Zealanders selected to attend the Kiwi-themed birthday celebration at Government House will be turning a variety of ages - from 18 to 101. Wife of the Governor General, Lady Janine Mateparae, came up with the idea to invite 64 New Zealanders to celebrate, and 1500 applications were received. Everyone who applied to attend will receive a birthday card signed by Prince Charles. "The birthday party has really captured the public imagination and shows the genuine interest New Zealanders hold in the forthcoming Royal visit. I'm really looking forward to meeting those selected and enjoying a great Kiwi-themed birthday party," said Sir Jerry Mateparae ... MORE

[SYDNEY]

John Key congratulates Obama

Prime Minister John Key has issued a statement tonight congratulating US President Barack Obama on winning re-election. "I will be sending President Obama a letter of congratulations tomorrow, and will also relay them in person when I see him at the East Asian Summit in Phnom Penh later this month," Key said in his statement. "The relationship between our two countries is an enduring and close one, and I look forward to developing it further. "With President Obama's re-election, there will be many opportunities to enhance the relationship, which is built on shared values, and a commitment to improve the prosperity and well-being of our people through initiatives such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. "I have enjoyed working with President Obama during his first term as President and welcome the opportunity to continue our strategic partnership over the coming years."

[SYDNEY]

Key makes history barefoot in Burma

John Key began the first visit of a New Zealand Prime Minister to Burma literally walking in Barack Obama's footsteps. Mr Key visited the gilted Shwedagon Pagoda, early today NZ time, a place of devotion for Buddhists. The red carpet that had been laid down through several acres of white stone flooring surrounding the towering pagoda for Mr Obama on Monday was kept for Mr Key. He did what was required of him ceremonially by his hosts - lighting candles, offering up flowers and banging gongs with golden sticks three times (one for his family, one for New Zealand and one for mankind). It was early evening local time, the air hot and heavy with incense. Hundreds of Burmese were there doing what they might normally do on a Wednesday night. Mr Key padded his way in bare feet past people in various states of song, prayer or contemplation, with an army of security, photographers and officials in tow. Some buildings had a look of Franklin Rd - the Auckland street that attracts thousands of visitors to see its festive decorations each Christmas - about them with their strings of coloured lights hung over them. The 99 metre pagoda stands on a platform well above sea level and can be seen for kilometres ... MORE

[SYDNEY]

NZ backs Palestine's bid for recognition

New Zealand is to vote in favour of a resolution giving Palestine UN recognition as a non-member observer state, Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced. However Mr McCully said the UN resolution was "a poor substitute for direct negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The United Nations General Assembly is due to vote this morning on a resolution which would see the Palestinian status upgraded from an observer entity to that of a non-member observer state. Mr McCully said the primary reason for voting in favour of the resolution is that it reflects the long-standing policy of the New Zealand Government. "New Zealand is a long-standing supporter of the two state solution. We believe that Israel and a Palestinian state should exist side by side, each respecting the other's right to peace. And we believe that they should arrive at that conclusion through direct talks. "As I stated in my address to the UN General Assembly earlier this year, we have never regarded a UN resolution as an adequate substitute for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. That is the only way of achieving a durable solution to this question. "We remain frustrated that two leaders who live half an hour up the road from each other cannot meet to resolve these matters directly."

[SYDNEY]

Sir Ian McKellan : Marry me in Middle-earth

Gay-rights advocate Sir Ian McKellen has spoken of his wish to marry in Wellington. In a video made for a Wellington conference, The Hobbit star praised New Zealand for the "exciting prospect" of finally legalising same-sex marriage. Parliament is considering a bill which would clear the way for it. "My support is with you and I hope that by the time I return to Middle-earth I might even be able to get married there," said the British star, who plays Gandalf in The Hobbit. With a "thumbs up" signal, he added: "Good luck". Sir Ian, 73, has spent long periods in New Zealand during filming The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. However, he missed this week's premiere and there was speculation it was in protest at comments made by Prime Minister John Key about a radio host's "gay red shirt". In his blog, he told Mr Key to "watch his language". In the clip, filmed on the set of British television series Loose Women, he said the world looked to New Zealand, the first country to give women the vote, for "social advancement". "It will be a popular move, I know, and I'm glad your major political parties have embraced it, supported too by the younger generation who see things a lot more clearly than people of my age." The video was screened at a panel discussion at Parliament last night, hosted by the Green Party. MP Kevin Hague said he would not be surprised if Sir Ian chose to marry in the capital. "Sir Ian has been involved for a long time in gay right issues . . . this conference gives him the chance to say something powerful in a country that he obviously cares a great deal about and has spent a lot of time in." Mr Hague was joined at the Legalise Love conference by colleague Jan Logie and Labour MP Louisa Wall, who sponsored the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill. It has attracted more than 20,000 submissions and is being considered by a select committee.

[SYDNEY]

Cross-post from the Trophy Shelf Thread ...

NZ retains top spot as least corrupt Country in the World

New Zealand's reputation for clean government continues to sparkle, as the country again comes out best in Transparency International's global corruption perceptions index. It is the seventh year in a row that New Zealand, either on its own or tied with some Nordic countries or Singapore, has topped the index for having the lowest perceived levels of public sector corruption. In the 2012 report, released today, this country is first equal with Denmark and Finland. The winners were helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behaviour of people in public positions, Transparency International said. This year's index used an updated methodology that provided greater clarity on how the index was constructed, making it easier to trace how data was rescaled for inclusion. For the future, local chapter Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) recently launched a so-called national integrity system assessment to provide a more nuanced and detailed report on this country's vulnerability to corruption. The assessment would provide the most detailed information yet about the factors which caused New Zealand to consistently rank at the top, TINZ chair Suzanne Snively said ... MORE