NZpol: A Dick-Burning Dumpster Fire

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Are you a This poll is closed.
homeowner	39	22.41%
renter	69	39.66%
stupid peace of poo poo	66	37.93%
Total:	174 votes

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exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz4PXOqg4Js

and welcome to the thread for complaining about New Zealand politics and ISPs.

Previous Threads Here

What is New Zealand Politics?

New Zealand is a country of 4.5 million people, found just to the right of Australia. It is a Parliamentary Democracy with a Prime Minister leading the Government and Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of State, represented through the largely figurehead Governor General. There are around 120 seats in the Parliament (more on that later), which is responsible for both Legislative and Executive branches of government, as New Zealand�s Upper House was disbanded in the 1950s. This means that the Government of the day is very powerful and has little real accountability. Hooray!

MMP
Elections are held every three years, using the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) method which is in my opinion good as hell. The below video explains is better than I can, but basically you get two votes; one to choose your preferred local candidate and another for your preferred party. Parties have List rankings, meaning that even if a candidate fails to win their electorate they still have a chance of getting in. This traditionally has helped women, ethnic, and other minorities to gain better (tho still not great) representation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ1gpLr9ftI

Indigenous Māori can choose to go on either the General roll or the Māori roll (and can choose to swap from one to the other every five years), and there has been a number (currently seven) of Māori electorates since 1867. The threshold for a party to enter Parliament is normally wins in electorates or 5% of the vote, but multiple members of a party can on occasion enter Parliament with less than 5% by �coat-tailing� in on a single, electorate-winning, member. It�s complicated and also bad.

There are currently 121 members of Parliament (the slight overhang is from a couple of single-member parties gaining representation I�m pretty sure), and 7 parties.

The Parties

Centre-right liberal-conservative party, slightly reduced its majority in 2014 to 47% or some bullshit. Lead by its only real asset: John Keys, son of a single mum, grew up in a state house, turned Wall Street banker. Calculatedly beige and shaped by polls at a level probably not seen before in New Zealand; similar to Merkel in Germany. Shine seems to be wearing off, maybe, this time for sure.

The centre-left social-liberal party. Managed to reduce its majority for a third consecutive time to 25%; the lowest since the early 1920s. Was last any good in either the 2000s/1970s/1940s. Newly lead by Andrew Little, ex Engineers� Union Boss, who is the fourth leader in 6 or so years. Kind of an unknown, he barely scraped into Parliament on the List and the Nats don�t quite know how to deal with him yet.

Left-ecologist party, co-lead by ~~Russel Norman~~ ex-PwC consultant James Shaw and Metiria Turei. After talking big during the election campaign they barely managed to hold at 11%, which they�re now painting as holding against a rightwing surge, lol. Currently trying to downplay the �traditional� hippy fringe and become more respectable in general, which appears to consist of ~~Norman~~ Shaw saying ~~he loves the free market any time he can???~~ that the Greens have transcended left/right.

Traditional conservative party, lead by Winston Peters. Won an additional couple of percent at the election, gets by on xenophobia and caring for the elderly, appears to be where some of Labour�s traditional support has moved. MPs run the gamut from reasonable to �ban muslims from flying and also the National Front are true patriots�

Kiiind of centrist Indigenous rights party. Co-lead by Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox, have pledged to go with whichever party will have them as partners. Foundation members both retired at the election; both of their seats were regained by Labour. Mostly just make racists mad, though Fox is a wildcard & one to watch imo

Libertarian but also hardcore Law & Order party. Now lead by David Seymour, a 12 year old boy, after the last leader was done for electoral fraud. The party campaigning the hardest against government handouts; given a free electorate seat in Epsom for electorate fuckery reasons :iiam:

Not really a party, lead by angry libdem piece of poo poo Peter Dunne. Another one granted an electorate seat for free. Utterly worthless.

Some other parties failed to get in:

The Conservative Party: lead by Colin Craig who is the ideological descendant of Graham Capill. Entertaining trainwreck.

Internet Mana: will a radical socialist indigenous rights party find great success by joining forces with a techno-libertarian video gamer? No.

exmarx fucked around with this message at 16:22 on Jul 1, 2015

# ¿ Jan 15, 2015 11:40

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 05:16

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

exmarx fucked around with this message at 08:36 on Apr 18, 2015

# ¿ Jan 15, 2015 11:43

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

I'm wondering whether effectively splitting the housing portfolio into 3 is a way of trying to avoid accountability

# ¿ Jan 18, 2015 23:31

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

John Key's support for gay marriage makes me confident that a decent majority of New Zealanders support it too :unsmith:

# ¿ Jan 19, 2015 10:25

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

a sinkhole opened up under remuera... i'm sorry, there were no survivors

# ¿ Jan 20, 2015 00:56

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

http://thestandard.org.nz/where-is-cameron-slater/

quote:

Yesterday I got contacted about Cameron Slater�s current address. Apparently the arsehole of the kiwi blogosphere hasn�t been paying his court ordered judgements against him that have been incurred in recent years. The person who contacted me wanted to serve a notice to bankrupt him.

However the miscreant has gone to ground and apparently has no known address. So I urge Cameron Slater to do the thing that he so eloquently raves that other debtors should do � pay his debts. As usual his lack of personal responsibility and general inadequacy just hurts all of those who are around him. Just ask Judith Collins or John Key.

But I managed to get a image of the front page. If you run into the cowering fugitive, don�t hesitate to point it out to him. Remind him that a bankruptcy hearing will be taking place with or without him.

# ¿ Jan 21, 2015 02:35

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Maybe it'll be good news

# ¿ Jan 22, 2015 09:36

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

# ¿ Jan 23, 2015 12:54

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/65394114/celebrity-boxing-pits-cameron-whaleoil-slater-against-jesse-ryder

omg remember when he had a bike race with Mallard

# ¿ Jan 25, 2015 01:29

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

please click here to support my Buying Boomers Bikes kickstarter

# ¿ Jan 26, 2015 10:58

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

also 200 Lyttelton Port workers are striking

# ¿ Jan 27, 2015 04:56

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Lobsterpillar posted:

Thats interesting, I was at Lyttelton today and didn't see any signs of a strike. Just a lot of pensioners (its pension day today) and a lot of dodgy driving.

i meant are _{[about to be]} striking :sweatdrop:

# ¿ Jan 27, 2015 06:20

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

fong posted:

http://i.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/65463098/eleanor-cattons-problem-with-new-zealand

John Keys, man of the people that he is, reckons she's just spouting the Green party line and that average kiwis don't think this. What a good bloke

# ¿ Jan 27, 2015 09:03

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

lauda finem is the blog that outed graeme thorne too.

it would almost be funny if sabin assaulted somebody while methed up; those allegations not so much.

# ¿ Jan 27, 2015 12:39

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Sean Plunket literally called Eleanor Catton a traitor and an ungrateful whore

http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Sean-Plunket-Eleanor-Catton-a-traitor/tabid/506/articleID/69858/Default.aspx

# ¿ Jan 27, 2015 23:23

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Eleanor Catton sets up grant to give writers 'time to read'

# ¿ Jan 27, 2015 23:49

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

it's a 'nicer' way of saying whore with scottish/irish pronunciation, the only relation it has to te reo is plausible deniability

the Herald posted:

"Sean has addressed his earlier comments on air - he defined a hua as 'just a woman who annoys you'," Lorimer said.

# ¿ Jan 28, 2015 02:05

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

I saw the point made on twitter that no one is actually refuting what she said, but arguing that she shouldn't have said it at all.

# ¿ Jan 28, 2015 03:59

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

El Pollo Blanco posted:

e: also holy poo poo Slater called Catton a 'Taliban Fighter'.

[green] Taliban, presumably :rolleyes:

# ¿ Jan 28, 2015 09:30

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

'Green Taliban' is a whaleoil thing though Dunne called them that last year as well. And Bomber called them emerald stormtroopers :jerkbag:

also this is how Plunket originally explained, absolutely making it gendered

quote:

"Sean has addressed his earlier comments on air - he defined a hua as 'just a woman who annoys you'," Lorimer said.

it is weird how neither John Keys nor Sean Plunket told Lomu or Dagg to stick to rugby during the election though

# ¿ Jan 28, 2015 10:59

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

protects his own i suppose

# ¿ Jan 28, 2015 11:07

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/65556474/smith-charters-helicopter-from-pike-river-funds

quote:

Cabinet minister Nick Smith has chartered another helicopter for television cameras - this time using tax-payer cash set aside for the families of the Pike River victims.

# ¿ Jan 29, 2015 05:50

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Russel Norman's stepping down as co-leader

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11394077&ref=nzh_tw

# ¿ Jan 29, 2015 23:00

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

I hope so. Shaw would be another step to the right.

Mike Sabin is tipped to resign at midday today (after Key said he would be at Waitangi, and that he would stay on as leader of his Select Committee). Sneaky sneaky.

# ¿ Jan 30, 2015 00:00

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

quote:

A prominent New Zealander has appeared in court facing multiple charges, but all details of the case have been made secret.

The man appeared this morning in a district court and was granted name suppression, along with sweeping other suppressions covering details and facts of the case.

He was remanded at large to reappear in court for a disputed-facts hearing next month.

# ¿ Jan 30, 2015 00:03

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Slater described Sabin's offending as 'almost too horrible for words' in his original post. I don't think he's ever slow to throw people under the bus outside of his [family's] personal friendships

# ¿ Jan 30, 2015 02:14

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

The Taxpayers' Union has (oddly quickly?) received an itemised list of all CreativeNZ funding that Catton has directly or indirectly received, which of course has been copied into an unsigned Herald article :thumbsup:

Her dad had a chat with Sean Plunket, who got rekt.

And this is what Catton has had to say

Eleanor Catton posted:

In the past twelve months I have travelled to England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Sweden, Spain, Canada, the United States, Australia, Brazil, and most recently India, attending literary festivals and helping to launch foreign-language editions of The Luminaries. To be read and received in different contexts around the world is an unbelievable privilege, one that is constantly shaping and reshaping my relationship with New Zealand, with my book, and with myself. My Maori character�s storyline took on a new significance for me after reading to First Nation elders in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I thought about the Hokitika gold rush differently after exploring the Brazilian coastal town of Paraty, where Brazilian gold, dug by slaves many miles inland, was once shipped out by the ton to Portugal. Talking about astrology in India, and about the nineteenth-century novel in Sweden, and about fiction born of philosophy in France, altered my sense of how The Luminaries fits in with other literary traditions and cultural histories around the world. I have seen also how the novel itself changes according to context: its social and sexual politics, its formal preoccupations, its attitude to history, its language, all become more or less audacious, more or less difficult, more or less successful, more or less interesting, in different parts of the world. The degree of familiarity that international readers have with New Zealand culture and history varies greatly, but one thing remains a constant: everyone I meet who has a personal connection to New Zealand will make sure to tell me all about it, sometimes at length and into a microphone of which they will not let go. I love these moments of connection and the conversation they bring. I am proud that the book is read by people whose lives do not resemble mine, and I am grateful for the opportunity to speak publicly about reading and writing, two of the things I love most. Like everybody I sometimes say things I don�t mean and mean things I don�t say, but throughout the hundreds of interviews that I have conducted since The Luminaries was published I have been conscious of my role as an ambassador�of my country, yes, but also of my gender, of my generation, and of my art.

The New Zealand mainstream media, though quick to flare up over a condensed record of remarks made last week in Jaipur, are in general altogether behind the ball: I�ve been speaking freely to foreign journalists ever since I was first published overseas, and have criticised the Key government, neo-liberal values, and our culture of anti-intellectualism many times. One reason why my remarks have not have been noticed in New Zealand until now may be that in most modern democracies a writer expressing an opinion is not considered, in itself, shocking. The truly shocking thing would be the writer who only spoke in praise of her country; who was unequivocal in gratitude and platitude; who swore fealty to her government, rather than to deep-felt values or ideals; who regarded arts funding as hush money and a part-time teaching position as an intellectual gag. I hope that that author does not exist today; but if she does, she is the one who should make the news.

In future interviews with foreign media, I will of course discuss the inflammatory, vicious, and patronising things that have been broadcast in New Zealand this week. I will of course discuss the frightening swiftness with which the National Party and their allies move to discredit and silence those who question them, and the culture of fear and hysteria that prevails. But I will hope for better, and demand it.

# ¿ Jan 30, 2015 07:31

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

has she no shame

# ¿ Jan 30, 2015 12:12

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Key refusing to answer questions on/even acknowledge stuff like Sabin is honestly bizarre by this point. If he's painted as arrogant for it that'll be a problem.

Abbott's just loving nuts

# ¿ Feb 1, 2015 00:18

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

High Court spat over Remuera driveway

Ratios and Tendency posted:

They probably figure arrogant is preferable to association with Sabin which might be a further clue as to what Sabin has done.

Yeah that's the intent � he did the same with Banksy and the Oravida stuff � but I can't help thinking it's an unsustainable tactic, especially if the TV News keeps showing footage of him being evasive.

# ¿ Feb 1, 2015 05:22

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Butt Wizard posted:

He managed to hold out until it got to court which is his saving grace as it's generally a bad idea for a PM to be commenting on anything to do with stuff before the courts. It's been pretty well managed anyway.

I can't exactly remember but I think Key refused to read any details of the case when people were calling for him to stand Banks down as a minister; this was pre-court.

e: which you said in your post. Yeah.

# ¿ Feb 1, 2015 05:57

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Key has now confirmed that he found out about about Sabin a week before the last term ended
but the NBR says he knew in April

A human heart posted:

it would be cool if theres a secret cabal of socialists that forced him out, but i'm guessing not.

Catherine Delahuntey has told him off for personal attacks on the Nats in the past :bustem:

# ¿ Feb 1, 2015 22:55

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

# ¿ Feb 2, 2015 02:13

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

PMO was told about Sabin at least a couple of weeks earlier than was originally stated

# ¿ Feb 3, 2015 04:45

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Ivor Biggun posted:

Grats on the star. Unless that's old news and I've just been oblivious.

Cheers, it's new & I'm going to abuse my power to change this thread's name whenever.

# ¿ Feb 3, 2015 06:33

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

http://www.3news.co.nz/entertainment/samantha-hayes-david-farrier-to-host-tv3s-late-news-2015020417

Neat

# ¿ Feb 4, 2015 06:14

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Slavvy posted:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11396561

Reckon Don Brash is a cat person?

I think he might be autistic. I don't mean that in a derogatory way, just like... what he says and thinks...

# ¿ Feb 4, 2015 09:15

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

Henry's meant to be replacing Firstline later on in the year in some kind of transmedia TV3-RadioLive thing, but apparently it's been delayed so maybe it won't happen at all

# ¿ Feb 5, 2015 01:06

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

http://www.crosbytextor.com/news/new-public-affairs-and-campaign-consultancy-to-partner-with-crosbyitextor-in-new-zealand/

hmmm

# ¿ Feb 5, 2015 09:03

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 05:16

exmarx: Feb 18, 2012; The experience over the years
of nothing getting better
only worse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URnuaz6-HRo&t=805s
I'm pretty sure Carter accidentally confirmed that Sabin is the guy in the no-details-allowed superinjunction case (13:25)

# ¿ Feb 10, 2015 03:07

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