Data 2: Why we are officially in recession

By Mike Treen, Retired Union Advocate The economy of New Zealand is officially in recession. New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.1 percent during the October-December period, following a 0.3 percent contraction in the third quarter, according to the Statistics Department, a government agency. (see https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/gdp-growth). Economists traditionally define a recession as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. On a per capita basis, … Continue reading Data 2: Why we are officially in recession

Mike TreenApril 13, 2024April 30, 2024

Local News, Mike Treen

Data 1 – benefits are being cut in value in real terms – but why?

By Mike Treen, retired union advocate The real value of benefits is being cut by switching the calculation of annual changes from the movement of the average wage to the Consumer Price Index. The CPI has traditionally been a lower number. Benefits had been switched back to the average wage movement only as recently as 2020 after being tied to the CPI in 1990. That … Continue reading Data 1 – benefits are being cut in value in real terms – but why?

Mike TreenApril 4, 2024April 30, 2024

Global News, Mike Treen

The need to end US-imposed austerity in Cuba

Wall art created at a community youth cultural centre with the visiting Australasian solidarity brigade in January 2024 By Mike Treen, Spokesperson for the Auckland Cuba Friendship Society Over the last few weeks, the Western news media has been full of stories of “unrest” in Cuba including protests over food and fuel shortages. From Western media reports, you would think that the Government of Cuba … Continue reading The need to end US-imposed austerity in Cuba

Mike TreenMarch 24, 2024April 30, 2024

Uncategorized

Unsustainable war machine: U.S. imperialism in crisis

By Gary Wilson Struggle-La Lucha General Smedley Butler said, “War is a racket.” Wikipedia explains that he was referring to the war profiteers and the “imperialist motivations for U.S. foreign policy and wars.” A Guardian headline on Feb. 18 declared: “World’s largest oil companies have made $281bn profit since invasion of Ukraine.” Below the headline was the teaser: “Global Witness says the five ‘super-majors’ are … Continue reading Unsustainable war machine: U.S. imperialism in crisis

Mike TreenMarch 15, 2024March 15, 2024

Opinion

On Winston Peters, NZ’s Most Loyal Servant Of US Empire

https://covertactionmagazine.com/2024/02/15/winston-peters-a-great-political-survivor-political-chameleon-and-most-loyal-servant-of-the-u-s-empire-is-back-in-power-in-zew-zealand/ Continue reading On Winston Peters, NZ’s Most Loyal Servant Of US Empire

Mike TreenFebruary 17, 2024February 17, 2024

Events

February events

Christchurch Protest poster Despite being called to stop killing Palestinians by the International Court of Justice, Israel has ignored this and close to 2,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – have been slaughtered in Gaza since the ICJ interim measures were announced (The total Israel has killed since October 7th is 27,840) New Zealand’s silence is deafening. Despite condemning the killing of Israeli civilians … Continue reading February events

Mike TreenFebruary 16, 2024February 17, 2024

Events

Rallies, marches and vigils replace gutless government over genocide in Gaza

Mike TreenFebruary 9, 2024February 16, 2024Leave a comment

Local News

CAFCA Update: The Rich Get Richer – Who Wants to be a trillionaire?

CAFCA UPDATE 1/ The Rich Get Richer: Who Wants To Be A Trillionaire? https://apnews.com/article/income-inequality-billionaires-davos-85baf23e9a2a7d4d94da5aca11f3ca5e 2/ Top Ten Foreign Purchases In NZ In 2023 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/top-10-foreign-purchases-kpmg-reveals-multibillion-dollar-trades/CTT7RC5PVJANVFW34QC4TP6ABI/ 3/ Government Plans To Liberalise Foreign Investment Law https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/01/26/plans-to-scale-back-ministers-powers-over-foreign-investment/ 4/ Climate Change https://www.stuff.co.nz/climate-change/350170790/will-huge-court-decision-spur-fonterra-genesis-and-z-energy-go-green 5/ Banks https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/301003074/westpac-profit-drops-but-making-more-out-of-borrowers https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/301007493/anz-profit-up-10-despite-tough-economic-times https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/133263001/bnz-profits-climb-to-more-than-15-billion https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350110572/bank-customers-shut-out-commerce-commission-banking-market-study https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nz-banks-announce-update-on-fight-against-scammers-crackdown-on-mule-accounts/SRIVXGZQYNFEJP2EVXFIBZAQ5Q/ https://www.thepost.co.nz/business/350154834/explosive-advice-banks-ombudsman https://www.thepost.co.nz/business/350165800/bnz-ordered-pay-217k-scam-victim-after-failures-identify-warning-signs 6/ Insurance https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/01/26/plans-to-scale-back-ministers-powers-over-foreign-investment/ 7/ Tobacco Companies https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350119403/devastation-and-celebration-binning-smokefree-legislation https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350157980/nz-first-mp-casey-costello-under-fire-over-cigarette-pricing-document-leak https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ministers-asked-to-disclose-links-to-tobacco-industry-as-smokefree-repeal-again-takes-centre-stage-in-parliament/62ICOMVRKNDFFESTH7USJBAQKE/ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/508127/revealed-nz-first-minister-casey-costello-s-notes-on-tobacco-tax-freeze 8/ Digital Transnationals https://www.thepost.co.nz/business/350097008/us-can-demand-data-held-cloud-giants-nz-lawyer-reminds-clients 9/ Forestry https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/497044/one-application-accepted-so-far-under-new-oio-farm-to-forest-conversion-rules https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/300986309/forestry-company-displayed-high-level-of-carelessness-and-should-be-fined-84000–gisborne-council https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/301010571/gisborne-mill-to-close-with-60-jobs-to-go-three-days-before-christmas … Continue reading CAFCA Update: The Rich Get Richer – Who Wants to be a trillionaire?

Mike TreenFebruary 8, 2024February 16, 2024Leave a comment

Press Releases

New Zealanders take action as media fails to accurately report Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa 2 February 2024 Media Advisory: New Zealanders take action as media fails to accurately report Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza Dunedin Protest poster It’s been another dreadful week for Gaza with Israel continuing its bombing and slaughtering of Palestinians – mainly women and children – as it pushes ahead for the complete destruction of Gaza. New Zealand of course is … Continue reading New Zealanders take action as media fails to accurately report Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

Mike TreenFebruary 2, 2024February 16, 2024Leave a comment

Local News