I have seen one future, and it is bleak

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nz national party magazine cover

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Back in  March 2012, I wrote this story regarding a march to support striking workers at Ports of Auckland. It appears there was some prescience about some of my observations at the time…

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18 March 2012 – I was looking at several images taken from the March 10 rally and the port picket lines, and for some reason, this one stuck in my mind. The more I look at the image of this young Kiwi girl (I hope I haven’t got that wrong!),  it eventually came to me.

In my mind, I was wondering; what will be her future?

Depending very much on what my generation (“Baby Boomers”) and Gen X does now, in the Present, she probably has three likely futures ahead of her…

Future 1

More of the same. Casualisation of jobs; wages driven downward as businesses compete with each other, and overseas providers of goods and services;  few job opportunities except in  low-paid fast food, care-sector, cleaning, and suchlike. A wealth/income gap that has become so vast that even the Middle Class are now designated as the Shrinking Class. Top earners and asset-holders – the Privileged Class – are paying less and less tax; low income earners having to pay more and more; with fewer social services  readily available. More user-pays; more alienation; less engagement with the electoral process.

This young lass cannot escape to Australia as she is either unemployed or under-employed. She is part of a growing Struggling Class that is resented by the Shrinking Class, and viewed with disdain by the Privileged Class, though grudgingly accepted as a useful pool of cheap labour.

The Shrinking Class know in their heart-of-hearts that they are living under a failed economic system that benefits only a few. But they are too frightened to vote for an alternative centre-left Party; they fear the back-lash from an angry under-class only too happy to exact revenge.

Meanwhile, the Baby Boomer generation has hit retirement – but there are few skilled care-workers left in New Zealand. So the government imports migrant workers from Third World countries under a bonded-system (so they cannot, in turn, escape to Australia). Taxation levels are now so low that government subsidies have ceased and  full user-pays is now in effect for Rest homes. Baby boomers are selling up their residences and investment properties; the market is flooded with cheaper and cheaper houses – but with incomes so low, few can afford to buy them. Those that are sold reap less and less capital gains.

Future 2

More of the same, but she has been fortunate enough to be able to find resources and support from whanau over-seas – and she is off to Australia.

In Australia, she finds a relatively good job with decent pay. Her work conditions are protected by a strong Union; she has access to decent social services; and the government assists her and her new partner to build a house. They are both working; earning higher and higher incomes; and contributing to Australia’s economy and tax-base.

In a year or two, she helps other members of her family escape from New Zealand.

They leave behind a no-longer-smiling Prime Minister who is promising to “revitalise the economy” to “entice overseas Kiwis to come back” – then cuts another  1,000 workers from the State Sector and sells the last remaining profitable State Owned Enterprise.

Future 3

New Zealanders’ appetite for New Right, minimalist government, that has produced very few gains or benefits – has come to an end. The Smile & Wave Prime Minister is thrown out at the next election where he retires to his Hawaiian beach house, and is forgotten.

Meanwhile, a new centre-Left government takes stock and adopts a Scandinavian model of governance, taxation, and social services. The new government starts off with a crash programme of building 10,000 new state houses.  Free school meals for breakfast and lunch starts in the first year. Free doctor’s visits and boosting immunisation rates up to 99% follows. New Zealand returns to a system of free education. (Howls of protest from a few remaining New Right supporters are either ignored or ridiculed. Some are offered a free plane flight to a Libertarian-run state of their own choosing – if they can find one.)

Amongst this “radical” social democratic reform, the young girl above is supported by well-resourced local community groups and by strengthened state social services to journey through the education system. A new “Social Contract” requires that all young people will be in education; a job; or serving in a new New Zealand Civic Corp, which involves fair pay for working on major  infra-structure projects and ongoing tertiary/polytech education.

A Capital Gains Tax and Financial Transactions Tax,  is a first step toward capturing heretofore un-taxed wealth and assets. As returns from these taxes kick in, the government makes the first $11,000 of income tax free. As incomes increase, government looks at Gareth Morgan’s “negative tax” system.

The young girl has grown, graduated, and is now working in the community in the children’s health sector. Her education is on-going, as the State encourages workers to undertake further tertiary education. This increases her productivity and value to society, and she is paying more in tax as her income rises. She is a saving some of her pay in an expanded Kiwisaver Account;  spending more; and local businesses are benefitting from her expenditure. She meets a young man who is finishing his Builder’s Certificate through the NZ Civic Corp.

Together, they have a family.  One stays at home to care for the family, the other remains in paid work. The negative taxation system advocated by Gareth Morgan has been implemented and the stay-at-home parent still recieves an income from the State. People are not disincentivised to have children; raise a family;  who then grow up to be the next generation of tax-paying citizens.

With none of the pressures that young families are currently facing, their home is not stressed because of financial pressures and job uncertainty/insecurity, and the children are raised in a stable, relaxed environment. The children’s future ahead of them is reassured; early childhood education; schooling; tertiary education; and finally tax-paying citizens.

In this reformed society, children are number one on the list and will always have first recourse to resources. The Prime Minister is Minister for Children.

In school, civics is part of the curriculum, and young people are taught recent history of our country; the mistakes we have made; and how they can hold politicians to account.

Meanwhile, she has persuaded some of her whanau to return to New Zealand. They like what they see and can feel themselves ready to become a part of a true, inclusive New Zealand Society.

The best thing about the three futures I’ve described above? The power to choose which one we’ll have is entirely in our hands. No one else can give or take it away from us.

Which is it to be, I wonder?

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Perhaps nothing better illustrates the three possible futures for the toddler pictured above than the all-too real – and thought-provoking – story of Aroha Ireland, formerly of low-income area, McGehan Close.

In February 2007, Key shamelessly exploited Aroha’s situation to attack the then-Labour-led government;

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Aroha Ireland, John Key, McGehan Close, Waitangi Day

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As I further reported on 23 November 2012 on Key’s cynical publicity stunt,

It’s somewhat disturbing to note that National list MP Jackie Blue, who had a close personal  relationship with Aroha’s family, played along with the photo-op. That was despite reservations expressed by some,

“Labour list MP Dover Samuels was the only one publicly labelling Mr Key’s invitation a stunt yesterday, but others quietly voiced similar concerns.”

The family, though, seemed blissfully unaware that they were little more than pawns in National’s pre-election grand strategy and expressed their comfort with events,

“…Mrs Nathan told Close Up last night that the invitation had given her daughter a good opportunity.

She continued to disagree with some of Mr Key’s views on McGehan Close, but she believed he was trying to push for positive changes.”

The 2007 episode ended badly for Aroha and her mother, as the NZ Herald reported on 10 February 2010,

The mother of the 12-year-old girl John Key took to Waitangi three years ago says she has been let down by the Prime Minister, and her daughter now wants nothing to do with him.

Joan Nathan said she and her family were worse off since National won the election.

She’d lost her job with National list MP Jackie Blue, arranged by Key, and a training allowance she received had been cut.

“They gave me the job to sweeten the deal, and then as soon as they got elected I got the sack,” she said.

“I’m pretty anti-Mr Key at the moment”..

[…]

“He’s just made everything worse for us and made it easier for ones that are higher up. I’m struggling every week.”

 

On 7 September this year, Fairfax Media published this up-dated story on  Aroha Ireland, formerly of  McGehan Close, and now residing comfortably in Australia;

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Aroha of McGehan Close flees NZ

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In his story above, Fairfax reporter Simon Day wrote,

Three years later Aroha, now 20, feels she was used by Key – and the Prime Minister won’t be getting her vote.

“The last time I spoke to him was when he took me to Waitangi Day. After that I have never heard from him again. I absolutely believe that I was used as a publicity stunt,” she says. “I wouldn’t vote for National.”

[…]

Now, she says, the opportunities she has in Australia just aren’t available here.

“I have a full time job that pays good, $38 an hour,” she says. “I have a house, rent is cheap, about $265 a week for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double garage, me and my husband are close to buying our own house. Life couldn’t be any better. There was nothing left in New Zealand.

“All this from someone who came from a ‘dead end’ street, right?”

She recently returned home to visit her mother. She couldn’t believe how expensive the price of living in New Zealand was compared to Australia.

“Petrol has shot up – $2 for petrol, really? I also brought about seven or eight items from one of the supermarkets and it came to a total of $78. No wonder people can’t fill their fridges. I’m glad I got out of New Zealand when I did.”

Over the past four years she has seen her mother’s financial situation worsen. “My mum works full time and she is still struggling really bad,” she says. “It is like she is worse off.”

“I have everything that I would never ever have in New Zealand. I would probably still be on the benefit if I lived in NZ right now.”

It seems that for Ms Ireland, of the three possible futures I outlined in 2012 – voters have chosen this path to follow;

Future 2

More of the same, but she has been fortunate enough to be able to find resources and support from whanau over-seas – and she is off to Australia.

In Australia, she finds a relatively good job with decent pay. Her work conditions are protected by a strong Union; she has access to decent social services; and the government assists her and her new partner to build a house. They are both working; earning higher and higher incomes; and contributing to Australia’s economy and tax-base.

In a year or two, she helps other members of her family escape from New Zealand.

They leave behind a no-longer-smiling Prime Minister who is promising to “revitalise the economy” to “entice overseas Kiwis to come back” – then cuts another  1,000 workers from the State Sector and sells the last remaining profitable State Owned Enterprise.

The economy in Australia may be slowing – but it still offers job prospects, housing opportunities, and social services that we here in New Zealand seem to be losing on a daily basis.

Especially when our housing crisis is worsening; child poverty continues to be a blight on our society; wages and wealth disparity continues to widen; social services are being pared back; and government is planning to introduce so-called “labour market reforms” that will further drive down wages, conditions, safety, etc.

This is what voters chose on 20 September.

However, be that as it may, there is one thing that every student of Quantum Theory understands – the future is never set in concrete.

The future can be changed.

Because it must.

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References

Fairfax media:  Aroha of McGehan Close flees NZ

NZ Herald: A Day Out with Friends In High Places

NZ Herald: Family still on struggle street after Key leaves

Scoop Media: Employment Relations Amendment Bill

Additional

NZ Herald: ‘No point’ in new state houses – Bill English

Acknowledgements

Election Commission: Orange Guy

Previous related blogposts

John Key: When propaganda photo-ops go wrong

National Housing propaganda – McGehan Close Revisited

What will be her future?

Other Blogs

The Daily Blog: Chocolate milk shortage and creepy Santa? Let’s talk about real news

The Daily Blog: Ideological Blitzkrieg – Privatization of state housing, more charter schools & more union crushing employment law

The Standard: Poverty and the need to belong

The Standard: No point in state houses

 

 


 

 

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36 COMMENTS

  1. Steal Farmers away from the neo liberals and get rid of the foreign banks . Or we will have no future .

    Meet Costas Lapavitsas

    http://youtu.be/QsXmi58N3CA

    ” What’s financialism, and how is it destroying your life? ”

    ” As businesses start retaining and investing larger cash-reserves, they’re turning into banks. Banks, meanwhile, need to find another line of work: they become asset traders. Meanwhile, your wages have been stagnant for decades, which means that in order to survive, you must become a debtor.
    An interview with Costas Lapavitsas from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies sets out a good explanation of “financialization” and how it’s colonized every corner of our world. “

  2. Ummm… New Zealanders migrating to Aussie aren’t able to access many of the social services on offer. Also why are less NZers migrating to Aussie and more are coming back to the extent the net rate is almost zero?

    • New Zealanders migrating to Aussie aren’t able to access many of the social services on offer

      Not much different to what we’re getting here in NZ, is it? Especially with 5,563-plus people on Housing NZ’s waiting list.

      Ms Spashett seems to have done quite well for herself; job; good wages; house.

      Contemplate for a while, Gosman.

      And wonder no more why East Berliners/New Zealanders decided to vote with their feet.

      • we made the move to Aus in 2012. Free medical care, able to support a family of four (two adults, two children) on a single income. Also get fortnightly subsidy as we are below the income threshold of $150,000, which equates to an additional $50.00 pw from the government….. what’s not to like. No chance of us going back to NZ… what is there for us especially NOW

    • @Gosman

      How many are actually coming back? Heard the rhetoric, but haven’t seen any supported facts.

      New Zealanders are still leaving for that brighter future elsewhere though.

    • Rubbish as usual gossie. NZ had a net loss of 10,000 people to Aussie in the last 12 months. The brain dead NZ press haven’t any idea of how to communicate with Australian journos and so gather hard info. They Lack any coherent research skills and put unsubstantiated memes in the msm on a regular basis to support the govts BS about the supposedly failing Aussie economy. It’s all PR. Most of my family either live and work or commute to work in OZ. Into our 2nd generation of living this way,with the third generation now being born over there because maternity services are so much more superior in OZ. I am so tired of right wing retards like yourself who would never have what it takes to commute around the globe for 3 decades in order to have a decent career that actually supports a growing family carping on about topics they have zero knowledge of !

  3. Excellent article Frank, I am so happy for Aroha I wish her all the best. I really wish I had left years ago, who would have guessed little old NZ would become so bleak for so many of it’s own people. But I do think all along the drive by the right has been and still is to push out the poorer (labour) people to Australia so the rich New Zealanders and rich immigrants can have this boutique country to themselves? Like a label eg Chanel Hugo Boss NZ hence everything being so over priced? The Australians are seeing N.Zers over there like the Americans see the Mexicans, but our own country is pushing it’s own people away which is beyond disgusting. John Key using Aroha as a stunt with the real underlying motive all along was to push people like her out then he has won. Not many real Kiwis live here anymore, new people here don’t know what N.Z was before, American culture has taken over everything. The flag will be designed by Dick Frizzel (because he mass produces Kiwiana corny crap) , the thought of that makes me want to puke, here’s a thought , put the Four Square man on the flag or Micky to Tiki yuk yuk yuk, so tacky!

    • If New Zealand was a state, it would be the poorest state in the US. But I am never going back to New Zealand as I don’t want to live under an authoritarian right wing government, and my advice to those living in Australia and other countries that are doing well financially is to not return home. Egalitarianism in New Zealand is dead, and poverty has become entrenched to the extent that it won’t go away even if you had a decade.

      • thekiwisonfire – this was something I spotted in the Dominion Post a few years back;

        A Victorian-based Kiwi with a student loan debt, who did not want to be named because he did not want to be found by the Government, said he did not intend to pay back any of his student loan.

        The 37-year-old’s loan was about $18,000 when he left New Zealand in 1997. He expected it was now in the order of $50,000. The man was not worried about being caught as the Government did not have his details and he did not want to return to New Zealand.

        “I would never live there anyway, I feel just like my whole generation were basically sold down the river by the government. I don’t feel connected at all, I don’t even care if the All Blacks win.

        “I just realised it was futile living [in New Zealand] trying to pay student loans and not having any life, so I left. My missus had a student loan and she had quite a good degree and she had paid 99c off the principal of her loan after working three years.”

        Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5488966/Student-loan-avoiders-told-to-pay-up

        Sums things up very well, I thought…

  4. Brilliant, you’ve captured it there Frank, once again talking about a minority overwhelming the vast majority of nuzilanders.
    +100 and happy Labour Day

    • 4 years ago (mid 2010) whilst travelling through rural NSW by car from Sydney to Breeezie, I struck many such ‘supermarket workers’ earning that.
      I also noticed NEW ZEALAND Salmon, various cuts of meat and fish products being sold substantially cheaper than they were in New Zull. Ekshly, milk, cheese and other dairy products were substantially cheaper. I.e NZ product sold cheaper offshore than in NZ. (Global Free Market philosophy??? Supply and Demand???? Don’t fucking think so!)
      Whilst I have no desire to move to Bjelke-Petersen territory, I will be getting the fuck out of this economic shambles we call New Zull for a place in the supposed ‘3rd World’ just as soon as I can flick my house. Actually (despite its slightly right leaning newly elected government), it has a greater respect for democracy and its respect of its citizenry than does this ‘utopia’

      BTW Frank – I like option 3 where we subsidize the 10%ers with an airfare to a libertarian paradise of their choice. I’d offer that too – EXCEPT just as soon as a new government is elected, I’d shut the SWIFT link for a week, and vet every last little attempt to transfer their wealth offshore (Not unlike post Muldoon).
      Alternatively ….. Raoul Island (Could become the new Waiheke – but with a more “Lord of the FLies” dynamic)

      • “Global Free Market philosophy??? Supply and Demand???? Don’t fucking think so!”

        Actually that is the global free market at work. Australia’s much larger population has greater purchasing power and can get a much better price as a consequence.
        That’s exactly the effect of a free market system, the accumulation of power to the already powerful at the expense of everyone else.

        • true! Except for the “free market’ bit. Markets are manipulated and arent’t actually as ‘free’ as the neo-libs’ claims (Another example of how the neo-libs hijack the language)

      • I have met migrants from China and other places, they hardly ever shop for clothes and so here in NZ, they tend to buy such goods overseas, in their countries of origin, when they head back for visits, and bring the stuff back here in suitcases, or sent by courier.

        Most Kiwis have NO idea how they get ripped off here, you get cheaper NZ fruit and some meats and so in many supermarkets in the UK and Continental Europe also, cheaper than here!

        It is the oligopoly of retailers here, not just supermarkets, that dominate the market. The only exception are the 2-dollar shops and a few Chinese run wholesalers and retailers, who import their stuff by the containerloads, and cut out middlemen.

        NZ is the best place for ripping off consumers, as most only ever travel to Australia or the islands, who grew up here, and that does not tell you enough to compare. But we know even AUS is cheaper.

    • Hard to believe, eh Ben? But it’s true. Why do you think thousands flocked to Australia for jobs?

      Answer that question and you’re on the path to recovery from rightwing delusions.

    • Get off your arse and apply for work on OZ then like the rest of us have done over the course of lives. you will be very surprised at just how much you don’t’ know. you uninformed numpty!

    • I earned ( admittedly in a part time(25 hours per week) casualised waitressing job in Victoria in 1980 $290 per week in the hand . On top of that i averaged another $200 per week in tips.over a 12 month period.
      In 1981 I used to earn $27 per as a night shift nurse aide (Unregistered) in a rest home. ( 10 hour shifts with 4 mandatory breaks) this was also a relieving job. i was never out of work over there and always managed to live well.
      I had been trained and educated well in NZ. Something not all of my off spring have experienced . Under 25 year olds struggle to find permanent jobs with a living wage that offer training of any kind in NZ. If i\was young I would leave NZ and never return.

  5. Labour Day today.Workers enjoying a public holiday that respects their labours endevours to our society.Used to be if required to work on this day,you received double time pay rates,now for the fortunate time and a half,for others those rosterd or working under their own employment contract or not,just another average pay rate day.

    Tomorrow afternoon in our Parliament,they will be passing workers laws that will see for the vast majority of workers,not having the right to morning or afternoon tea breaks,and for some workers not even a lunch break,further the right of employers given the right to negotiate with workers individualy without a workers chosen employment agent.

    Labour day.What would the battlers say and do about that,those slaved exploited workers of your Great and Grandparents who stood up and sufferd unbeleivable hardship to gain those basic working rights.

    • My working life has been 50 years and in that time I have never had designated breaks. I have taken breaks when my work has allowed and many times that has involved working whole days or more without a break . Strangely enough I have never felt exploited or deprived. It is just a fact of working life.

      • Ben, your Overlords thank you for your increased productivity and profits for their benefit.

        If only all slaves and serfs were as conscientious as you…

        • Isn’t it great to see the freedoms our grandfathers fought for being fought for so valiantly again by chaps such as our Ben. Courage. That’s all i can call it. Well done mate. Have a cup of tea.

  6. Just seen Labour wanna be leaders on tv going on about how good they are, and why they are better that their opposition (other labour party wannabe leaders) Does anyone not see how destructive this is. We all want an effective opposition to keep the government honest but this is not the way.

    • yes Dan. it’s pretty fukn sad eh? And all dressed up as being a democratic process. It’s a battle of egos with two of the candidates (at least) allowing their egos to get in the way of their ‘supposed’ principles.
      Quite pathetic really. The only word that springs immediately to mind is naivety, alongside I I I I me me me me me I I I I

  7. “He’s (Key) just made everything worse for us and made it easier for ones that are higher up. I’m struggling every week.” – Aroha Ireland. 2014.

    Labour lost our future because they lacked the fire in the belly passion you show about NZ loss of our future.

    I looked at the performances of Labour M.P.s over the election campaign and was never moved as I am reading your article, so they did not grasp the importance of nailing those points into the heads of voters.

    They need their own TV/Radio media now by taking half our existing public RNZ & TVNZ and get some serious coaching as key got to win the next one or we will all be leaving.

  8. Frank:
    I loved that you tried to create a third scenario.

    However, it seems so 1950s. Karitane nurse meets builder.

    Does she get equal pay, yet?

    Are we still exploiting animals to earn our overseas dollars?

    Is the 20th century ‘our best’?

    Yikes.

    • In 1950 I don’t think there were too many male Karitane nurses but in scenario 3, nurses in general would be paid on a par with middle management bankers, and would have a clear career path (if they happened to be ambitious). If they were over-ambitious and with huge egos, they’d get a testosterone test, and may well qualify for an airfare subsidy to the libertarian utopia of their choice. If they happened to be bonded, the bond would be waived just so we could see the back of them as quickly as possible, and there’s even be a patient cheerleader group doing the haka (zimmer-frames-complete) out of Queenstown Interneshnool Earport on a Braniff Charter flight to Whoiee

  9. It is really more a mixture of Future 1 and Future 2 to be honest, as Tony Abbott is hell-bent on turning Australia into a kind of society we already have here. Some employers in Australia consider John Key and his government an example to follow, as they dream of having less union influence, less labour law “restrictions”, less rules and more freedom for employers to hire and fire as they please.

    They are there brining in new welfare laws that will be even more draconian than what we have here now, and the drive is to make Australia even more a little USA down under, and that will eventually also impact on New Zealand.

    The more difficult labour market in Australia and the economic downturn there has made it more difficult for Kiwis to go there and get a job. There is little point in moving to Australia and not having work there, as there is little in the way of social security support for Kiwis. Hence numbers of people moving there have dropped, and Key and Nats are celebrating their “success”, which is not their making, it is that of the Australian economy and Abbott’s government that have led to this.

    Key has decorated his government before with “achievements”, that have nothing to do with the Nats’ policies, like the export boom to China. It was simply China managing the GFC better than other economies that enabled NZ exporters to keep exporting there. Also did the Australian owned NZ banks manage the GFC better than other banks in the world, as Australian and NZ banks had better resources to see themselves through.

    New Zealanders “enjoy” some of the highest supermarket and other retail prices in the OECD, as retail and wholesale here is run by oligopolies, who display conduct like cartels.

    House prices and rents are amongst the highest in the developed world, so that many Kiwis work and slave just to pay the real estate agents, banks and landlords, and have little left for other essentials. The obsession with driving cars, and the relatively poor public transport in NZ cities leaves many paying much also on petrol and car maintenance, leaving only a bit of money to buy cheap junk food, that leads to poor health, and yet more costs to pay in the future.

    Much would need to happen to change all this, but too many chose to vote for this idiotic status quo, or did not bother voting at all on 20 September. Last not least the Dumb Down Media (DDM) have a lot to answer, focusing on side shows rather than report on what matters, during the election campaign, and even for long before.

    God help New Zealand, one may say and sigh.

    • As I mentioned the DDM (Dumb Down Media), on DDTV (Dumb Down TV) they made a “feast” of their idiocy on TV3 last night, thinking they got another “story” about taxpayer money being wasted. It must have been a day short of “real” news. It also delivered more ammunition for that idiot Paul Henry to spout off nonsense galore on his DDS (Dumb Down Show).

      So the IRD did spend money on some headphones or headsets for noise protection, that may have cost a bit more than they should have, but they did not focus on the rent or lease savings in the hundreds of thousands that IRD made by putting more staff into existing offices.

      While I think that IRD could have done better overall, and done better by looking after their staff better in other ways, it was really a non story, as the hundreds of thousands saved on leasing two or more buildings (as they used to), made the “wastage” of a few thousands look rather miniscule.

      I am sure the “taxpayer’s union” will pick this up soon, the story about the headsets, not the actually saved money on costly leases. God help us with this crap reporting, while Key gets off with all kinds of escapades, and changes hats while talking to Slater as the minutes pass.

    • Kiwis are too placid and uncomplaining.Australia in the past has always demanded their rights to a fair wage ,they have a bigger population ,they can stand up be heard.
      Yes Tony Abbot is hellbent on copying NZ because he is a puppet of big business like Key and all the other PMs around the world, they are paid or bribed to comply so the elite get the profits at the expense of the people.
      We have been taken over out for decades,we are only just realising it .
      National falsify statistics to fool people ,I know a lot of Nat supporters ,I used to be one , they never knew about Dirty Politics,
      they believed everything they were told by msm,who printed and spoke as their master owners told them ,mostly overseas owners .
      Labour didn’t stand a chance with gentleman David Cunliffe, he was either living as though it was the sixties or he played a good game,
      He was so keen on not getting criisism from Key, he played into right into his hands,for a man educated in America at top university Cunliffe was either very stupid or in on the con, I no longer trust any politition ,too much interference from big business in NZ politics.

    • Kiwis are too placid and uncomplaining.Australia in the past has always demanded their rights to a fair wage ,they have a bigger population ,they can stand up be heard.
      Yes Tony Abbot is hellbent on copying NZ because he is a puppet of big business like Key and all the other PMs around the world, they are paid or bribed to comply so the elite get the profits at the expense of the people.
      We have been taken over for decades,we are only just realising it .
      National falsify statistics to fool people ,I know a lot of Nat supporters ,I used to be one , they never knew about Dirty Politics,
      they believed everything they were told by msm,who printed and spoke as their master owners told them ,mostly overseas owners .
      Labour didn’t stand a chance with gentleman David Cunliffe, he was either living as though it was the sixties or he played a good game,
      He was so keen on not getting criisism from Key, he played into right into his hands,for a man educated in America at top university Cunliffe was either very stupid or in on the con, I no longer trust any politition ,too much interference from big business in NZ politics.

  10. If this country tried option #3 it would be torpedoed by capital flight and bad press asap. It would see much the same as Attlee did when Winston came back in ’49.

    Until the so called left or center left can protect itself from those vulnerabilities when in government, a scenario like option #3 is always going to meet fierce resistance and be shot down in flames.

    A little different from option #3, but as we know with Attlee, they nationalized the commanding heights of the economy, but neglected to nationalize the true commanding heights that are the financial institutions. If they have their sources of capital, they have their power and will find a way to remove any progressive government that threatens the interests of their capital by over-favoring the working class (p.s. ‘middle class’ is B.S when applied to most who identify as that. Live by selling your labour, you are working class).

  11. Aroha is a success story and good for her. It’s a pity she had to leave her homeland to prove her worth, because it definitely would not have happened in NZ!

    Seems Key using (and abusing) her for PR purposes to improve his chances of becoming PM, did Aroha a big favour. Under his premiership, she could see the ominous trend which was to send NZ spiraling towards the gutter and saw a very grim future for herself if she remained here!

    Congratulations Aroha and many thanks Frank for an excellent analysis of the issue.

  12. Great article. I like the fact that you pointed out in scenario 1 that the shrinking class were too scared to vote left. In a type of stockholm syndrome I feel that voters are now voting for their oppressors. It is a bit like family violence when everyone asks the victim ‘ why don’t you leave?’. Often they won’t leave because they are too afraid, their self esteem is too low and they have no support. They actually turn and protect their abusers. Personally I think that happened in the last election. And their counterparts (left parties) who should be the watchdogs have become consumed and are reinforcing the right wing messages themselves. (lets change our colour red and be convivial dining partners). (We don’t trust our leader). (Mana is bad). etc The confusion means there is not safe alternative for voters. Parties need to get a grip of what is going on out there psychologically for voters and also the messaging and smear tactics of Textor Crosby strategists. The enemy is not the voter or like minded parties – it is the creepy underhand tactics that are taking over MSM and political parties. So good to see alternative dialogue in the daily blog!

  13. See in Aussie they have just got approval to open another coal mine, the largest ever. Many jobs, but he Greenies wouldnt have it here now would they.

  14. Well , Frank…I posted about this very story about 3-4 months ago…I think it was on Mr Bradburys post. Not sure.

    Its also why Ive been a constant advocate for RE- EDUCATION regarding neo liberalism ….and its alternative ..SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC KEYNESIANISM.

    You will need a form of mass communication. Radio for a start. Visual media may be a bit too ambitious for the near future.

    And on that Radio you will have a pretty standard format BUT !!!….the difference will be in the political /economic base.

    NO Right wing dogma, propaganda, opinions or manipulations (unless forums were open to debate).

    It will include lecturers and economists, political analysts and speakers, trade union Reps and such like.

    There will be zero tolerance for any obviously sold out media commentators / opinions or ‘reporters’ working for Right wing interests.

    News, weather, music , sports…all the norm ….but news WILL NOT be gleaned from other Right wing blogsites or sources to further Right wing interests.

    As Ive said before , Radio is portable , cheap for people to buy one , can be listened to on the way to work , at work , and at the beach.

    This story …to me , …is the epitome of what this disgusting , destructive , anti soveriegn , deceitful neo liberal ideology is ALL about.

    It was why I posted about it a few months back.

    But Im tiring of all this. Just so sick of the whole negativity of the total shitheads who have been destroying our country for decades.

    And that goes for both National and Labour . Their day WILL come. But when is another matter.

    I have an 18 year old son , typically …with eyes glazing over at ‘too much ‘ political talk. Understandable …I was like that at his age. He is bright , with much potential. I will not stand for , nor tolerate these neo liberal PRICKS FUCKING MY KID UP.

    So… off to Aussie for me …he will get his degree in NZ…and then he can use my flat I will get over the ditch as a springboard for a better life.

    I will say that story enraged me. White hot. It did when I first read it and even more so now.

    These arseholes….these right wing arseholes who post here….who ACTUALLY THINK this shit is a good thing , ..not only that , – justify the destruction of the lifes of their OWN countrymen and women.

    I can only say they are very , very evil people. Or very , very delusional.

    And for me?…. Ive had a gutsful of their ilk.

    My only solace being is that justice from those sad specimens…is the lessons contained within history. When you continually crush a populace into the mud…..certain things happen to that society that ‘shift ‘ the balance of power back again to the people……

    And this place is headed in that direction.

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