The greens have rightly asked if the prime minister of this country is going to do or say anything about the racist ads from their coalition partner, the soon to be extinct Act.
NZH
"They're his coalition partner, does he support the racist campaign they are running?" party leader Russel Norman asked NZPA. "The Prime Minister speaks on behalf of all New Zealanders, and the vast majority of New Zealanders are not racists and are very uncomfortable with what ACT is up to and I think it essential he condemn this kind of racist campaign."
And what does key say?
This morning, Mr Key told reporters there was nothing new in either the Act advertisement - which was "factually incorrect" or Mr Ansell's subsequent comments and he was not bothered by them. "What happens with him and the Act Party, frankly I don't give a toss about, but at the end of the day I don't think any of us would be surprised that he's making those comments." He said the comments would not sour National's relationship with ACT.
Yep the prime minister doesn't give a wank about it - no issue, not bothered. He should care but smile and wave can't see the votes in it, so out of sight - out of mind.
Mr Key said the advert and comments would not affect National's intentions regarding the Epsom electorate where it has essentially allowed ACT to win a seat, giving it a presence in parliament.
I suspect this position will change as we get closer to the election. Act are going down and brash is going with them. Brash does not realise that kiwis like their racism more downbeat than this - a bit more under the carpet. I don't think kiwis will vote for these Act idiots and i hope they see the truth of key before it is too late.
I agree with the Greens on this new Environmental Protection Agency when they say that there is a lack of environmental advocates on the Board. Anake is there but one or two voices will not stop the rest. And the other members of the board include "former managing director of road building giant Fulton Hogan David Faulkner, former Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast and former Security Intelligence Service chief executive Richard Woods." as well as Anake Goodall, Tim Lusk, Graham Pinnell, Taria Tahana and Gillian Wratt.
NZH (Adam Bennett)
Greens co-leader Dr Norman said the legislation which allowed for the establishment of the authority "had nothing in there" about environmental protection. "It's mainly being used to fast track roading projects... now it's going to have the job of fast tracking deep sea mining."
"You haven't got a bunch of environmental specialists there, it's been set up to enable short term economic development under the pretence of environmental protection. It is a totally dishonest process."
The EPA will have big responsibilities.
The legislation will make the newly established Environmental Protection Authority responsible for issuing consents, monitoring and enforcement of activities within the EEZ which lies from 12km to 200km offshore and the Extended Continental Shelf, which lies beyond that. The EPA begins full operation next month and will process resource consent applications for nationally significant projects such as oil rigs and power stations.
The usual suspects pipe up
Petroleum Exploration and Production Association executive officer John Pfahlert told Morning Report that the proposed rules are similar to those imposed by other countries. He says tighter controls mean more costs for companies and a higher end price for oil and gas at the pump.
Yes higher prices so that the companies can manitain their profit - that is why they are fake concerns - the companies still make their profit and extra costs are loaded onto the pumps.
Greywolf are gone but they are just the expendable bunny sent to test the defences. Where the defences are strong the opponents begin to weaken them. Where the defences are weak, the opponents build up their forces and lines. We are strong in people power but we are vulnerable to multiple attacks and that is what they will exploit - human wave tactics - lots of applications, lots of resources they want, lots of areas all around our country. They will try to splinter opposition to their plans, they will try to alienate maori and environmentalists and communities. They will try to discredit and mock. They will cry false tears on marae and they go back and work out how to use that to their advantage. Make no mistake this is a serious game and they play seriously.
Good work by labour's David Parker on highlighting the plans of the Chinese company wanting to buy Crafar farms. Thank the gods for the Official Information Act and those who know how to use it to get this information out into the open.
Stuff
Shanghai Pengxin's aspirations to branch beyond the $200 million-plus farm purchase into real estate, infrastructure development and mining in New Zealand are included in its application to the Overseas Investment Office, released to BusinessDay under the Official Information Act.
In the application the company said it regarded the proposed purchase as its "initial" investment in New Zealand.
"[Shanghai Pengxin] will actively seek other opportunities to invest in New Zealand in agribusiness, real estate development, mining and infrastructure, utilising its expertise in these areas gained in China and elsewhere in the world.
There is a saying - In like a needle out like a plough - and this is exactly what these bridgehead 'investments' are. As Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says
"We'd be idiots if we let the Chinese companies buy up all this stuff. But Labour and National have shown they are capable of it in the past so I wouldn't be surprised if they let them do it again."
Reports have said that the Chinese Investment Corporation may invest up to 6 Billion or 1.5% of their fund into this country's assets. That compares with 2% that they have supposedly set aside for Australia. Jeepers if true that will have society changing consequences for this country. We know that the government wants to sell our assets and they are going to try really hard to. To tell you the truth I don't care who stops them as long as someone does. The Mana Party will be strongly opposed, as will the Greens. Winston will rally against it and Labour will have a go, as Parker has here. It may be asking too much for Labour to lead this as they oppose Hone and Mana even more than the maori party, and as Russ mentioned their track record is not good.
People power is the answer - it works and puts real fear in our opponents hearts.
Oh dear - Russel Norman co-leader of the Greens has decided he hasn't had enough media attention recently so he has to have his say about the Mana Party. What an idiot comment from him that he doesn't want to fight the battles of the 1980's and 1990's - hey russel we are still in those battles - just because you have been having a rest doesn't mean everyone else has been. Of course he has been reading the papers and is getting worried about the Green vote - my question is, "Why are the Greens not fulfilling their potential here, why haven't they captured the public imagination as everyone watches the environment struggle - Why? How about looking at Norman and his leadership and the trend towards the middle class vote - the suit vote. Your strategy is wrong norman and the small support you have shows that - stop being an impediment to the green vote and start thinking like a socially aware green.
Stuff
Dr Norman said "there might be a few votes" for the new party, but "maybe not a lot". "I mean, who wants to relive the battles of the 1980s and 1990s? We're in 2011 for God's sake. We need a progressive force that actually deals with where we are now, not tries to refight the 1980s and 1990s.
"I just don't think a lot of people are really hanging out for a Hone Harawira, Sue Bradford, John Minto, Annette Sykes kind of party ... They're looking for something progressive and forward-looking that actually is oriented to the current century rather than the last one."
I rather hang with them that you russel - they have conviction and strength of purpose. You have deliberately put yourself in the key/goff camp of politics norman, well done for you. My advice - if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. If you don't like the will of the people who may vote for Mana, then piss off - we don't need or want you in the way.
Good post and hat tip - The Standard
This is hard to believe.
"Groundwater quality has "no significant relationship" with land use, a Ministry for the Environment report says"
That's right - the Ministry for the Environment are saying that land use has no 'significant' relationship to water quality.
This is the ministry for the environment here - this is not only nonsense but it plays right into the hands of those that would do anything they want on the land and not have to worry about the water they pollute.
Too true russ - you are on to it and thank goodness for that, because if you weren't we probably wouldn't even have heard of this. Why aren't other political parties interested in these issues - they affect us all.
minister smith said;
"The report said nitrate and E. coli levels breached health standards at 5 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively, of 973 monitoring sites, including 279 in Canterbury.
Quality was rapidly changing at a third of the sites, with "patterns that suggest human influence". But the report said there was "no systematic or significant relationships" between groundwater quality and land use or land cover."
"Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said the claim was absurd and "propaganda".
He said the uncertainty in the report suited the Government's political agenda "to downplay the environmental impacts of agricultural intensification"."
"he was "a little surprised" at the conclusion because the popular notion was that land-use intensification led to water-quality problems.
Smith said he would defer to the specialists who prepared the report rather than favour popular opinion."
It does seem to be quite a contrarian position - i wonder why the ministry have taken it.
