GPJA #436: Part 1. News from Aotearoa New Zealand – 26/7/12

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

STATS OF THE WEEK

“National house price to disposable income rose from 2 in 1980 to around 3 in 2003, before doubling to around six in 2008. It is now 5.” Bernard Hickey, Herald on Sunday, 22/7/12

Of the 161 wealthiest people in NZ (with wealth over $50m), only 67 reported an incokme over $60,000 in 2008. then priority for tax avoidance at the IRD has been “tips in the hospitality industry and under the table payments to seasonal workers”. http://union.org.nz/sites/union.org.nz/files/CTU-Econ-Monthly-135-May-2012.pdf

BEST ON THE WEB

NEW ZEALAND

Time For Nz To Get Out Of Ukusa Spy System http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/time-nz-get-out-uk-usa-spy-system/5/130066

Education Sectors Unite Against Budget Cuts http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00276/education-sectors-unite-against-budget-cuts.htm

The Ghost of Harry Findlay: In 1996 a Kaitaia man called Harry Findlay took a stand against the National Government’s income and asset testing policy for elderly people receiving long-stay care in public hospitals. Harry refused to pay a $56,000 bill to Kaitaia Hospital for the treatment of his Alzheimer’s suffering wife Ila http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/the-ghost-of-harry-findlay.html

Coalition launched to extend paid parental leave http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00339/coalition-launched-to-extend-paid-parental-leave.htm

Government continues down a path of penalising students https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/138c05ef9fbe2131

Show & Tell education cuts march photos http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151125048039739.491852.693039738&type=1

QPEC: Politely ignore Minister’s warning on “politics” in school http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00157/politely-ignore-ministers-warning-on-politics-in-school.htm

NZUSA: Student teacher representatives question mixed messages http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00155/student-teacher-representatives-question-mixed-messages.htm

Maoridom turning cold on Maori Party http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/maoridom-turning-cold-maori-party-4972431

Govt Mass Arrivals Bill Triggers Call for Inquiry by the UN http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00233/govt-mass-arrivals-bill-triggers-call-for-inquiry-by-the-un.htm

Confirmed: Bennett made it up http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/confirmed-bennett-made-it-up.html

CPAG Granted Leave To Appeal High Court Decision On Discrimination Claim Against Children Of Beneficiaries http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00266/cpag-granted-leave-to-appeal-high-court-decision.htm

CPAG: Poverty The Biggest Barrier To Children Thriving http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00142/poverty-the-biggest-barrier-to-children-thriving.htm

CPAG: Welfare Reforms Perpetuate Discrimination http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00289/welfare-reforms-perpetuate-discrimination.htm

Chris Trotter: Shearer’s radical inclination http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/chris-trotter/7311521/Chris-Trotter-Shearers-radical-inclination

Welfare reforms passed, but protests won’t stop http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7314472/Welfare-reforms-passed-but-protests-won-t-stop

Disadvantaged students at risk http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/perspective/7314462/Disadvantaged-students-at-risk

Mana Party urges DIA to shut pokie takeaways in Otara http://auckland.scoop.co.nz/2012/06/shut-the-pokie-takeaways-now/

Don’t diss Maraenui, say locals http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/dont-diss-maraenui-say-locals/1452231/

More Student Protests at the University of Auckland http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00229/more-student-protests-at-the-university-of-auckland.htm

Academics call for halt to league tables plan http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10820094

No Joke: Why I’m Not Laughing At Labour’s Latest Speeches. http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/no-joke-why-im-not-laughing-at-labours.html

Don’t Shoot the Messenger Says Te Whanau a Apanui http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00288/dont-shoot-the-messenger-says-te-whanau-a-apanui.htm

Elvis to appear at Tauranga Court http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00287/elvis-to-appear-at-tauranga-court.htm

Protesters join forces on drilling http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10821708

Chris Trotter: The repercussions of a nanny state http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/chris-trotter/7335224/The-repercussions-of-a-nanny-state

ASSET SALES & WATER RIGHTS

‘No upside’ to US-led copyright changes http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/six-month-delay-victory-in-battle-for.html

$112 a head for asset loyalty http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10821712

Gordon Campbell on the media’s sales job on asset sales http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/07/24/gordon-campbell-on-the-medias-sales-job-on-asset-sales/

Tribunal urged to rule Maori have full rights http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10820836

Maori seek injunction on Mighty River sale http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7313173/Maori-seek-injunction-on-Mighty-River-sale

Mighty River Power seminar disrupted by asset-sales opponents http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/7306585/Mighty-River-Power-seminar-disrupted-by-asset-sales-opponents

Focus is on greedy Maori, rather than greedy, rich non-Maori http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Focus-is-on-greedy-Maori-rather-than-greedy-rich-non-Maori/tabid/466/articleID/29392/Default.aspx

The People of New Zealand Send Their Strongest Message to Date – Aotearoa is Not For Sale J14: An Outstanding Success. http://aotearoaisnotforsale.com/

National Day of Action a success http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00190/national-day-of-action-a-success.htm

History repeating itself in water debate http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/opinion/218159/history-repeating-itself-water-debate

True lies – John Key on asset sales http://thestandard.org.nz/true-lies/

WORKRIGHTS NZ

Department of Labour advice shows employment law changes unfair http://teu.ac.nz/2012/07/department-of-labour-advice-shows-employment-law-changes-unfair/

Carers shouldn’t have to strike for $14 per hour – CTU http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/carers-shouldnt-have-strike-14-hour-ctu/5/129340

Productivity bonuses for workers at Ports of Auckland http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00186/productivity-bonuses-for-workers-at-ports-of-auckland.htm

Union calls for national port strategy http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/7260822/Union-calls-for-national-port-strategy

NZ ECONOMY

Gordon Campbell on KiwiRail’s outsourcing bungle with the Chinese http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/07/20/gordon-campbell-on-kiwirails-outsourcing-bungle-with-the-chinese/

Gordon Campbell on the $200 million bill for roading consultants http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/07/16/gordon-campbell-on-the-200-million-bill-for-roading-consultants/

CTU: Low price increases welcome, but good wage increases still needed http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1207/S00198/low-price-increases-welcome-but-wage-increases-still-needed.htm

US companies accept Pharmac is here to stay, says head of lobby group

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10818514

‘No upside’ to US-led copyright changes http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/7344889/No-upside-to-US-led-copyright-changes

New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine policy statement on the Transpacific Pacific Partnership http://www.populationhealth.org.nz/media/77457/2012%2006%20trans%20pacific%20partnership%20policy%20statement.pdf

FILM FESTIVAL

Ouvéa massacre film gripping tale of betrayal and political opportunism http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/07/ouvea-massacre-film-gripping-tale-of-betrayal-and-political-opportunism/

Broken Cameras: The political is utterly personal in this account of five years in the life of Palestinian farmer Emad Burnat, his wife, four small children and their friends and neighbours in the village of Bil’in in the central West Bank. http://www.nzff.co.nz/auckland/film/a0daab91-e9b4-4c21-bc48-660fd78d3ce6

Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey – With: Bernadette Devlin McAliskey. A fearless, fiercely articulate Irish Republican firebrand in a miniskirt, Bernadette Devlin became Britain’s youngest elected female MP at 21 in 1969. http://www.nzff.co.nz/auckland/film/18e8b748-4152-404d-9a2e-6ed23c4e3068

CULTURAL DISSENT

Gordon Campbell on the death of Alexander Cockburn http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2012/07/23/gordon-campbell-on-the-death-of-alexander-cockburn/

Orwell’s The Road to Wigan Pier turns 75, Scott Hamilton http://www.readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/peerless-in-wigan.html