Is this Labour’s Hikoi of Hope?
A commenter on this blog suggested today’s truckie protest may come to be seen in hindsight as Labour’s Hikoi of Hope – one of those landmark days which cripples a Government.
Certainly it is extraordinary that despite causing massive congestion, public support seems to be massively on the side of the truckies. Quoting nzherald.co.nz:
However, nzherald.co.nz has received reports of bystanders around New Zealand clapping, cheering and encouraging drivers to toot their horns.
In Hamilton, residents came out onto the streets in their nightwear, waving, clapping and asking truck drivers to toot their horns. Road workers have been blasting out music for the drivers and some bakery workers have given them pies. …
Two convoys with about 10 trucks in each have arrived on Tauranga‘s harbour bridge, one from the city side and the other from Mount Maunganui.
In the city itself a convoy of about 50 trucks, most of them big-rigs, has arrived on Cameron Road. Members of the public have been waving at the convoy and showing their support. …
In Dunedin, many supporters have gathered in the Octagon which is being treated as a turning area for the trucks to go back along Princess St and onto the one way system.
In looking for a parallel, though I would compare it to National’s fight with Plunket in 1999. To recap National in 1999 refused to fund Plunket Line on the very good grounds it had never agreed to. Plunket had funded it from its own reserves as a trial. However the public perception was that National was cutting funding to Plunket.
So it was one of those cases where technically the Government was doing the right thing by refusing to give in, but it overlooked the political dimension of being seen to shit on Plunket a few months before an election. So National took a big hit for a “lousy $500,000″ as Kevin Roberts chided Caucus in 1999.
This is somewhat similiar. It is arguable that road user charges should be increased. But that is not the issue. Why on Earth would you do it three months before an election unless you are terminally stupid? After waiting 19 years, why not wait a few more months?
And if you have promised to introduce a law allowing you to give a month’s notice of an increase, how suicidal is it to to then not wait for that law to be passed and do a fee increase with 0 days notice?
Annette King spent eight years getting a reutation as a very solid and competent Minister – one of the safest pair of hands. But my God this last 12 months has seen her demolish her hard won reputation. She has turned into a disaster zone, and how she lost her political instincts on this I don’t know. Did she think there would be no backlash? Did she not realise that at a time where every motorist is paying massively more to use the roads, that any additional Government increase (even if just on truckies) would be seen as the Government being out of touch for how tough it it.
It does not matter that the money from the road user charges is spend on the roads. Just as it did not matter that Plunket never had been funded for Plunket Line. It is the symbolism that is so powerful, and the symbolism is that Labour is unsympathetic to road users – who happen to be the majority of voters.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Surely the protest is a breach of the EFA by the Road Transport Association and its members… te he he.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:47 am
hamilton residents came out onto the streets in their nightwear and asked drivers to give them a good horning?!?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Can we please have an election tomorrow?
Please, please, I promise I’ll be good?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Please, please, please.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I bet King knew what increase she was going to implement when the budget round was settled months ago. How could she not have a figure in mind then??? And she promised 1 months notice and then reneged on that because she was going to get people buying up large in advance. She cannot move now on 6.5% because she has committed herself to that in the Roading revenue budget set months ago. She has been playing a game with the industry having fake consultation when she has no intention of doing anything meaningful.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Its not just the truckies. RUC for small diesels have also apparently gone up but I haven’t checked the details yet. By pure chance I got my last lot a few days ago (paid 5000km in advance which is more that any petrol user has to)
I could argue that my little Peugeot 306 does a lot less damage to the roads that one of the ministerial 7′s beemers. (and i don’t travel at 160kph – well not very often anyway)
July 4th, 2008 at 11:58 am
There were trucks all the way between home (Te Aro) and work (top end of Molesworth St). It was like a street festival with the trucks and their air horns. But also with crowds of people standing outside buildings and construction sites and on street corners. People were smiling and waving. I even saw a Wellington City bus toot back at a truck driver and wave. I was surprised the number of people who wanted to stop, chat, and voice their opinion that the truck drivers were doing a good thing.
The truck drivers ensured that they kept one lane open at all times for car drivers, even tho the trucks were driving at walking pace. They weren’t out to piss off the general public.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
“Why on Earth would you do it three months before an election unless you are terminally stupid? After waiting 19 years, why not wait a few more months?
And if you have promised to introduce a law allowing you to give a month’s notice of an increase, how suicidal is it to to then not wait for that law to be passed and do a fee increase with 0 days notice?”
This kind of question was asked on one news last night by a political reporter (apologies to said individual – 11:55am memory not up to scratch) over the use of internet videos in the election campaign. He began to question the wisodm of excluding internet activities from the EFA. It would be classic Labour Party moral high ground M.O. to amend the EFA to include the internet, to “save National” from having mud slung at them. Who could argue with their selfless concern? And who was it that was slinging the mud in the first place? The media expert said they were smart, very skilled, had easy access to video footage the average Joe wouldn’t bother to look for, very bright, very smart, oh yes, so smart…
So putting aside all possibility of emotional disorders/campaign stress clouding the judgement of experienced ministers:
Why would a minister want an organised and highly visible element of the transport industry to clog the roads in a way the public would embrace?
What end would be served by passing legislation so it could not happen again?
What other elements could be caught up in such legislation?
What could be done so that bad press in an election year is less costly than the goals of the strategy?
Alternately they could just be the half dead roadkill government that they appear to be, staggering blindly across the traffic and hoping that National will only be in power for a single term.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
“They weren’t out to piss off the general public.”
yeah right … like blocking three lanes of the southern motorway … good way to get public support … wankers
July 4th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Trucks are old news.
Anyone know what the gaggle of stinking students shuffling up Queen Street with some piss poor banners (something about 10bn of student debt, now that’s one good piss up) are “protesting” about? It sure gave me an itchy trigger finger.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Do you swim upstream to spawn as well ernesto?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
yes … I verbalised my opinions out my car window on Queen St at 8 o’clock this morning and got similar (although not quite so intellectually respectable) feedback.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
“Annette King spent eight years getting a reutation as a very solid and competent Minister ”
But was the reputation deserved? She’s reponsible for the waste of time and money that went on changing the health system instead of improving service and the resulting mess that was passed to Pete Hodgson and now David Cunliffe; she presided over the EFA; she’s the one who blamed crime on the sun & moon and now she’s increased a tax that sooner or later will hit every voter in the pocket.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
It was an amazing sight in Dunedin’s Octagon this morning. A huge number of truckies turned out in their big (and small) rigs. Great to see Katherine Rich and the two National candidates, Conway Powell and Michael Woodhouse there supporting the truckies.
No sign of Pete Hodgson, David Benson-Pope, David Parker or Clare Curran……………. funny that!
July 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Of course those who do own a diesel vehicle can easily avoid paying RUC
July 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
It’s not like there was any urgent need to put up the RUC now. LTNZ is running a 224 million surplus.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Homepaddock
Like you, I am forced to wonder whether Annette King was ever as good as her reputation suggested, or whether she was merely lucky. Hes performance for the past 18 months has been a disaster, and everyone knows it.
Either way, this post by DPF is likely to be the last time her name and the phrase ‘safe pair of hands’ appear in the same paragraph.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Interestingly enough, although some might consider my blogging to be rather right-wing on average, the overwhelming feedback (in the aardvark forums) on this trucking protest has been to condemn the truckies for their actions. It’s a real eye-opener just how this protest seems to have backfired, within my right-leaning audience. Very strange indeed!
July 4th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Colin Espiner has just written a piece beautifully titled “Government Fried by Big Mack”.
http://stuff.co.nz//blogs/politics/2008/07/04/government-fried-by-big-mack/
July 4th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Thge issue it raises for me is who exactly is in control of the Labour Party Government?
Their Key is Evil [click] stratefy is shite.
Helen’s role as strategist is questionable.
King can just breeze through somethng and shoot themselves in the foot and everyone is cool with that?
It’s realy looking like Cullen is th eonly one with any desire to stay in power, and even he has been enacting a scorched-earth policy as he retreats from he previous ‘no tax-cuts’ position.
I think that this is about the inner cabal repositioning itself for better days ahead, and a desire to rid themselves of the present leadership, by deliberately sabotaging their electoral chances.
Anette King has one eye on the future a future as Labour Party Leader.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
From the NZ Herald ‘Traffic eases after truckies’ protest’:
“The gates at Parliament had been closed and a number of anti-truck posters were pasted up around the complex in on trees and lamp posts.”
The anti-truck posters hopefully in compliance with the Electoral Finance Act, to “provide more transparency and accountability in the democratic process, prevent the undue influence of wealth, and promote participation in parliamentary democracy.”
July 4th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
“It is arguable that road user charges should be increased”
Well, looks like your reasonableness is in stark contrast with 90% of your right-wing commentators/raving lunatics on the previous thread DPF. Why does kiwiblog attract the craziest that the right has to offer?
July 4th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
For the same reason it attracts you roger,
July 4th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Yeah but Bruce, your blog attracts geeks who were probably pissed off that they missed their morning session of warcraft before work started.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Lee C:
Because dad4justice makes their sides split?
July 4th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Annette has always had a stolid, plodding, pepperpot belligerence that has been misinterpreted as competence. In her steadfast defence of the ‘common sense’ of the EFA she completely failed to understand the fiasco she was proposing. Time has caught her out- much like her husband in that shenanigans at Hawkes Bay DHB.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
roger:
just examine your own conscience and if it is not found wanting, then you are in a sound place from which to criticise ‘The Dad’. We are all entitled to make mistakes and hopefully rise above them, and perhaps be a better person as a result.
I know that you believe this deep down, that is what differentiates you from right-wingers is it not?
July 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
4th July 2008
In the United States of America the 4th of July marks their Independence Day.
The day and date is rich in symbolism. It marks the voice of the people throwing off the shackles of an unpopular unwanted goverment that did not represent their values or opinions. Crowds cheered on the patriots who were called rebels (i.e wreckers and haters)
We, the people, have had enough of being ruled by a despotic government that rules only because it cheated and bought its way to electoral victory and the baubles of office in 2005. Their arrogance and contempt for the people knows no bounds. We have today had our Truckoi of Hope
We will finally kick them out at approx 10.30pm November 8th 2008.
122 days to our Independence Day.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I don’t know how anyone can have formed the opinion that Annette King had any reputation other than one of a completely corrupt banana-republic official.
Safe pair of hands?? Well certainly reliable if that’s what you mean – reliably turning everything she touches to shit.
Where to start… Health? Untrialled MeNZB experiment on infants anyone? Oh, what about Justice… EFA, Proceeds of Crime bill… what next… transport?
reputation – yeah right.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Roger
“Well, looks like your reasonableness is in stark contrast with 90% of your right-wing commentators/raving lunatics on the previous thread DPF. Why does kiwiblog attract the craziest that the right has to offer?”
With seven posts, I believe you were the most prolific contributor to that thread. When the claims you made were comprehensively shredded, you scurry off to this thread and complain about how crazy everyone else is. Sorry Roger, but that is kind of pathetic.
And yes, there are raving lunatics of all political persuasions posting stuff on the internet. Who would have thought.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Still no comment from Nome on Labours assurance that the RUC wouldnt be changed without giving a months notice.
Still no comment from Nome about Labour putting this assurance into law, but getting in one shifty increase before it was binding.
Still no comment on how this could ever be considered a just thing to do.
But we have had two comments from Nome insulting 90% of the people who comment at Kiwiblog. True to form and typical of a Labour supporter.
What are you doing, Nome? Trying to show your party leaders that you can be just as worthless in the Kiwiblog comments section as they are in parliamentary debate?
Just go ahead and call someone fat, tell someone else to take their meds, baselessly accuse someone of corruption, tell everyone how labour has made everything better and call it a day.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
diogratia, do you even know what the EFA covers?
Fisiani, I recall that people in the US weren’t actually allowed to vote ‘taxation without representation!’ and all that jazz.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Still no comment on whether National would decrease RUCs either…though as DPF pointed out – it’s all symbolism at the moment.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Off thread, but I see another Corrections Dept file has been left on the street. See both Stuff and Herald top stories…
Can it get worse for Labour???
July 4th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
“Still no comment on whether National would decrease RUCs either…”
If the charges havent been increased for a while, then they should be increased to keep pace with the sky rocketing inflation Labour has left us with. If trucks are causing more damage to roads that have been neglected like all other infrastructure under this Labour government, then the charges could be increased too.
Still no comment on Labours assurance that the RUC wouldnt be changed without giving a months notice.
Still no comment about Labour putting this assurance into law, but getting in one shifty increase before it was binding.
Still no comment on how this could ever be considered a just and fair thing to do.
If Labour had given notice of this change we wouldnt be having these protests. It is because they lied and attempted to shaft the trucking industry (one of this governments new competitors now that the country owns LabouRail) that we have these protests.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Yup, i should’ve added that ‘Labour are behaving like a bunch of knobs at the mo’
July 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
“It is because they lied and attempted to shaft the trucking industry (one of this governments new competitors now that the country owns LabouRail) that we have these protests.”
My first thought when they announced the RUC increases was that they were trying to get rid of a few more competitors to the Wailways.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Could it be that Dear Leader & The Good Doktor let Annette go ahead with this RUC-ing disaster because They Need The Money — to fund their trainset purchase, plus the block-of-cheese tax cuts, plus the little bribes-for-the-gullible they have up their sleeves to whip out in the lead-up to Election Day?
Truck that.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
So we’re all agreed then? “User pays” initiatives are bad?
I was disappointed in the end – next time I’d like to see a bit more theatre – maybe some better weather & some bands playing on top of the trucks. ANd dancing, dancing is good.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Bobox, people like Roger see kiwiblog like a missionary sees a tribe of savages, so many to save with so little time at hand. Roger and many of his lunatic socialist mates suffer from a genetic disorder that compels them to “instruct” others on how to run their lives and what to believe, one only has to look at the Limbo party and our Dear Leader to see how true this is. For Roger and his fellow travellers Kiwiblog is seen as fertile ground and the heathens must be saved from themselves.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Looks like the Labour Government is trucked.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
It beggars belief how many including DPF have been sucked in that any of this lot were ever competent. They and their spin doctors managed to con most of the citizens for many years. Now thank God the con has been exposed.
IMHO as I have said before they go on conning this time they want to lose the election because they know they whoever govern from 08 to 11 will be out and wont get back for a decade at least after 2011.
sadly the majority of the citizens are ecomonically and financially illiterate.
they think macro economics is something to do with macramy and that micro economics is something to do with the microwave oven.
So what ever happen its all the Gummints fault and its they who should be punished
July 4th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
So “user pays” is a blank cheque for socialists to raise any tax at any time in any way Llew. Even if they haven’t used the money they’ve already raised for the claimed purpose.
Thanks for the heads up on that.
Gee I’m so glad thats been cleared up… now I need to go get some food before the cost of transporting it hits the shelf prices.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
When a country is slipping into recession in a big way most intelligent goverments do not step in to saddle a critical sector with another tax.
Most intelligent governments try to ease the pain and holdoff such actions to enable an early recovery.
There is an old saying “don’t kick a man when he’s down.”
And ACC levies are going up and the ARC is itching to charge a levy for their stupid train sets – has no one got any sense of timing?
July 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Hi roger ; food and fuel go up and Liarbour go down in a screaming heap. Power too the people, not idiot politicians!
July 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
llew “user pays is bad”
I wouldn’t go that far, but one needs to be really careful to discern who the user is. Or maybe we should consider not the “user”, but who benefits from the use.
Current political thinking is that users of our roads in this instance is vehicle operators.
Pretty short-sighted if you ask me. We all greatly rely on trucks. We all benefit from their operation / existence, not just the truckies. Of the overall benefit to be had, only a small fraction goes to the truckie.
Same political thinking abounds wrt student loans. Current political thinking is that the main person that benefits from the education is the student. This is obviously also ridiculous. The whole country benefits any time anyone gets in a position to pay more tax / make the country more competitive. So people getting an education is for the country’s benefit, not just or even mainly for the individual. Many other countries know this, and send people to study overseas on various scholarships so they can come home and the country can benefit. So yeah, abolish student loans, they’re bad for the country. Coincidentally they are bad for the economy, why do they think people aren’t saving any more – they are paying off student loans!
July 4th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
“I need to go get some food before the cost of transporting it hits the shelf prices.”
I doubt budget chicken noodles are about to go up in price substantially.
You know, in more more evil moods, I sometimes think it would be worth letting you lot suffer 3 years of a national government, just to get rid of the idea that the fat-cats party would be at all interested in “the people” and their welfare.
But I’m not that cruel.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
you’ve read the public reaction wrong..you obviously didn’t talk to many jammd in gridlock in their cars..
http://whoar.co.nz/2008/this-trucking-protest-is-going-to-blow-up-in-their-facehow-dare-they-gridlock-the-countryfor-such-shallowspecious-reasons/
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 4th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
The witch , the soon to depart stage left bitch after the elections didnt see the protest or hear as the bitch sleeps under her bed and was wearing airmuffs. a leader???????????????? to lead??????????????????????????? us into a bright future ,YER RIGHT. Whose next to protest , (THE PUBLIC OF NEW ZEALAND)
July 4th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
“There is an old saying “don’t kick a man when he’s down.”
or; When you are in a hole…stop digging!
(maybe they are digging an escape tunnel?)
July 4th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
“the fat-cats party would be at all interested in “the people” and their welfare.”
sonic; the “fat cats” could be NO worse than the champagne socialists. Just look at the rapid rise in child abuse and infanticide. Liarbour ignore it because they’re solely focused on saving their own “Absolute Power” control freak arses. Get real, time for BIG change in New Zealand !
July 4th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Geez Phil
It’s bad enough that you have to spam us with links to your witterings once per thread, but twice?
Good on the truckies – stick it to King. I’ll be looking out for saturation coverage in the news tonight.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I thought you hated car owners too phil? Now they’re your proof? I would’ve thought you’d be sticking it to those crazy earth destroyers as on such a lovely day it was easy to ride or walk.
Queue jibberish, flippant, spite laden response here:…
July 4th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
cue?
July 4th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I have a feeling that many are missing the point here, all those who supported the truckers this morning (as apposed to the actual truck drivers) were NOT doing so because of the rise in RUC’s.
This is a protest against the government, it is a protest against the endless increases we all face and the total lack of empathy and compassion shown by the corrupt and arrogant Labour party.
The average bloke is hurting, they are sick of being lied to and they are sick of the never ending price rises.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
The truckers represent opposition to Labour. That is why they are popular.
Labour is languishing at 29% in the polls. Perhaps even less soon.
71% do not support Labour.
122 days to freedom.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
So chronic is telling us that we’re being fucked over by lying thieves… but in a caring sharing way.
Get fucked.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
“You know, in more more evil moods, I sometimes think it would be worth letting you lot suffer 3 years of a national government, just to get rid of the idea that the fat-cats party would be at all interested in “the people” and their welfare.
But I’m not that cruel.”
what the hell do you leftists think national are going to do?? whats so bad??
probably not the best govt if youre in the meat packers union, but pretty dam cool if youre dime
oh the horror, national cut taxes!!! people that work hard and drive this country get to keep more of their own money!
national may even get rid of things like “working for families” – that would be disgraceful, hard working families keeping more of their own money and not having to apply for a benefit. yuck!
how will the country survive under national?? no new laws telling us what to eat.. how to raise our kids the “correct way”..
if national win the election god help us all!!! i heard a rumor personal responsibility could make a come back!!
anyway sonic, go ban some more people from the standard
July 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
hey labrator, i’m with phil, … only a wanker would want to cause gridlock for the whole city. How would you like it if I parked my car in front of your truck so you couldn’t move because I want to *protest* … confirms widely held belief that truck drivers are wankers.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I just love the idea of the greenies being surrounded by diesel fumes, and revving engines all day.
I heard sneering Jeanette say yesterday she thought the truckies should pay even more!!!
I bet they had their slimely hands all over this increase as well.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Good on the Truckers.
Its not that the RUC’s shouldn’t be going up, its that when you make a promise to do something like give one months notice of an increase, its generally accepted that that’s what you’ll do.
That’s the whole point of the protest, the breaking of a promise.
Annette King is a top rate idiot if she can’t see it, and she’s deliberately misleading the public with her red hearing over the $17.5 m pre-purchase of RUC’s last time, because the new law was going to stop this from being able to happen (I don’t know how they were going to do this, some sort of limit on the amount of RUC able to be purchased i guess).
Either she is an idiot, or she’s purposely wrecking the chance of Labour winning this election so she can roll HC after their worst defeat in living memory, and claim the leadership mantle for herself?
July 4th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
“hey labrator, i’m with phil, … only a wanker would want to cause gridlock for the whole city. How would you like it if I parked my car in front of your truck so you couldn’t move because I want to *protest* … confirms widely held belief that truck drivers are wankers.”
how can ya not like truck drivers??
what about when an ACT/National MP tries to speak at a university and the nutjob lefties drown them out with screams… that inconveniences people..
what about when nutjob lefties march up queen street??
the truck drivers arent doing this for fun.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
poor ole ernesto and the other Socilaists supporters have yet again and surprisingly missed the whole point of the excercise.
like their politcial masters they are one dimensional thinkers.
Unable to connect the dots and understand the real reasons for the support of the truckies.
How many times do we need to spell it out . Nine years of frustration came to a head this morning. Nine years of being ignored or treated with arrogance and contempt.
Like we cant have a referendum question on the ballot because.
A we dont have the time to organise this.
B the punters dont have the brains to vote for the Parliament AND answer the question.
Remember Jimbo Andertons response to the 92% result in the 1999 referendum Well Ill remind the Socialists
he said THEY DIDNT UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION
July 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
on the ‘need’ for RUC increases… Patrick Starr was saying on another thread that every 1c increase in the price of fuel adds $5.5m in annual GST revenue. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to just how much more revenue than budgeted for has come in to the coffers over the last 12 months… and then justify why still more is needed from higher RUCs?
July 4th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
SONIC the only fat cat I saw on the TV last night was that woman who condoned the corrupt practises at the HawkesBay Health Board. I think the Truckies were rightly peeved that when she broke her word about giving 28 days notice and instead gave no notice, sneakily publishing the increase on the Goverment’s web-page, while hoping (in Vain) that no-one would notice due to the distraction of the Liabour Goverment ‘s purchase of Fail Rail the same day. She, like Anderton has always impressed me as being a bombastic loudmouth, full of bluster to disguise an absence of ability. We are the first OECD country to enter a recession though the other Socialist Nations Denmark and Norway are expected to follow. It’s only the people who have no money though as the Goverment announced to day a 5billion dollar surplus twice what they were expecting, then they go an announce this extra targeted taxation.
July 4th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
This is classic. Sonic now believes himself to be god.
“You know, in more more evil moods, I sometimes think it would be worth letting you lot suffer 3 years of a national government, just to get rid of the idea that the fat-cats party would be at all interested in “the people” and their welfare.
But I’m not that cruel.”
Your delusions of grandeur is only surpassed by your absolute lack of value as far as NZ politics are concerned. You have a vote. That’s it. Get over it. (Although plenty here would argue that giving some-one with your intellect the vote is indeed a waste.)
July 4th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
big bruv you are right. Boy wouldn’t it be good if the opposition could lead a vote of no confidence in the next sitting of parliament.
July 4th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Who ordered Parliament’s gates closed, who is responsible for ordering an investigation into the defacement of Parliament and what is the penalty for such acts?
Why do Liarbore think it’s about the amount of the tax? As some have said above, they have really lost their antenna, and now Hulun is chief political strategist. Even if Hodgeson was nominally in that position, everyone knows he wasn’t doing it by himself, so what’s going to change? I believe Karl Rove is available at the mo. You really need him. He’s good at attack.
It must really hurt to have one your former constituent groups turn on you like that. Sign of the times eh? Maybe if you didn’t do all that fucking social engineering they wouldn’t be so gutted? Maybe that’s the real problem Hulun, it’s not this particular tax, it’s your entire track record.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
reid Yes Yes Yes Good God for a while I was wondering if noone else had actually connected the dots and realised the real reason for the citizens revolt.
Yes the citizens are revolting and the Prime Minister and her cronies would have been reminding themselves of this over the tea and bikkies on the 9th floor this morning.
As we speak the witches coven will be plotting around the cauldron as to what punishment they will inflict on the ungrateful peasants who dont know how lucky they are to be alive.
As Witch King said on tellie the truckies punishment could have been much more severe had she not persuaded the rest of the coven to reduce the punishment.
And how do these wretches repay her for delivering them from the fires of hell and damnation.
They revolt against the kind hand of benevolence.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
“..Queue (sic..heh..!) jibberish, flippant, spite laden response here:…”
yaawwnn..!!
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 4th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
and gee..!..eh..?
the second rise in road user charges in 18 years..
(anyone else only had two ‘raises’ in 18 years’..?)
the poor darling truck drivers have been really hard done by..eh..?
and aren’t they the other industry that expects us to pay for their polluting ways..?
who have been lining up for pollution-welfare/’exemptions’..?
.. ’till 2028..?
w.t.f..!..eh..?
greedy polluting bastards..!
get over there with the dairy-industry polluting greedy bastards..!
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 4th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
The Lesbian Socialist Republic of Aotearoa is toast.
The only question now is whether Clark will call an early election and get 20%, or wait for the other civil disobedience campaigns over the next few months and be reduced to their most corrupt few.
Roll on Bob Jones and his EFA protest.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Will the next polling period take this into account eg has it started yet. Would be great to start the next poll on Monday while this is fresh in peoples minds.
Larry Williams has let it fly on ZB clearly stating “the average kiwi has been rodgered by this Govt and is pissed off”.
Well done to the truckies. 95% support and Helen is still on the news in denial trying to spin it.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
gd says:
You’re right, gd. Perhaps National realise this and they don’t really want to win, hence their pitiful non-performance to date. Sadly I also find myself in agreement with sonic – that the forthcoming National Party government – vested with all the hopes and frustrations of average Kiwis – will prove a huge disappointment.
So assuming National do lose in 2011 – partly due to circumstances beyond their control and partly due to an absolute inability to offer the kind of real leadership and inspiration that would convince people to stick with them through tough times – the choice facing voters will be even bleaker than it is at present.
Time for an alternative, perhaps?
July 4th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
What else can Hulun do now? This is the test of the real leaders. If she can pull this one, I won’t vote for her, but I promise not to run around pulling her campaign posters off.
P.S. re: the posters: Just the face with a black background, has proven effective in the past.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
is SONIC helen clark
July 4th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
philu.
I was going to suggest that truck driving could be a good flexible work hour job for you. A random drug test we did revealed 40% of them were dope heads- so could be right up your alley?
by the way- thats 2 increases in 2 years. For the previous 16 years they overcharged RUC w.t.f..!..eh..?
July 4th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
reid asks:
Well, in answer to the second part of your question, look no further than our comrades at The Standard:
July 4th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
The thing is Rex, you couldn’t have done worse than this last govt. If the 4th Labour govt was in power during this time period, NZ would be the best positioned in the world. Period.
Instead we’re at the low average and worse is to come.
People elect politicians for wisdom. You could not have been more foolish than to have ever voted for this 5th Liabore govt, even if you only ever did it once.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Yeh I saw that Rex – lefties are scum.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Rex – I am glad Tane from the standard communist blog doesn’t feature here with a horrible picture of some nitwit poking their lying tongue at you. A tongue like that would make a lizard jealous and a truck driver furious.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
philu 2042-2 sorry mate you seem like a fuckwit..do you need help. if you have a mental problem helen davis govt might be able to help you or are you ,SONIC opps philu,opps who gives a fuck(dumbshits) , go play with the pitbulls ,or now that the truckies have gone ( go play on the motorway), but post lossers IF YOU SURVIVE or worse come labour under me ,im a fair tradesman:)
July 4th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Rex
I thought the Labour Party poster line “Let Me On, I Want A Free Ride Too” was nothing new and the same line they have always used amongst party members
- The Treaty Industry
- Ministry ‘Consultants’
- Welfare recipients
- - etc
- -etc
- -etc
July 4th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
reid says:
Oh Lord… “wisdom” and “Lockwood Smith” are terms I don’t think have ever shared the same sentence till now
I agree with you reid, that this government rates as one of the worst – if not the worst – in NZ’s history. I’m just agreeing with gd that the Treasury benches are (to coin a phrase) a poisoned chalice, even to a party with dynamism, vision and leadership. I see none of those qualities in National at present and so don’t think they’ll survive more than a term.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they’ll do a worse job than Labour’s present line-up. Not by a long chalk. But they won’t do as well as they should – and as well as we have a right to expect – either, and a lot of that will be their own fault.
So… where to then? I’m just suggesting we lok beyond getting rid of Labour now (a positive goal though that may be) to something that maybe embodies what’s missing in NZ politics. No sense swapping worst for 2nd best when the best is still possible.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
“..,im a fair tradesman:)..”
you’re fucking ‘barking’..that’s what you are..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 4th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
you’re fucking ‘barking’..that’s what you are..
…and you’re a worthless piece of bludging dogshit…eh ?
July 4th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Stephen,
The anti truckie posters might qualify as an election advertisement under EFA 2007, Part 1, 5 (1) (a) (ii) [...any form of words or graphics, or both, that can reasonably be regarded as...] encouraging or persuading voters to vote, or not to vote, for a a type of party or for a type of candidate that is described or indicated by reference to views, positions, or policies that are or are not held, taken, or pursued (whether or not the name of a party or the name of a candidate is stated);
Ineptitude upon ineptitude, the ruling party can’t even legislate a home team advantage without continually stepping in it themselves. While they could have always declined to politic against the protest, the definition is broad enough to include scare labels on packs of ciggies when one takes into account how the labels got there.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
It’s simple, objectively the increase makes sense if you accept the way that the National Land Transport Fund is spent. However the fundamental trigger was the lie – the lie to Tony Friedlander could have been avoided.
Another factor is Labour rejected updating and modernising the RUC system to allow it to be fairer (varying by weight and location, with far less opportunities for evasion).
Trucks have overpaid their way until the last few years with inflation in road maintenance, the Green evangelists will never believe it- but Not PC summarised it well here (not that I didn’t contribute hehe) http://pc.blogspot.com/2008/07/trucks-some-facts.html
July 4th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
It’s good you’re familiar with the fact that it relates to voting, but “Let me on – I want a free ride too”? Is it promoting the hitch-hiker’s party then?
July 4th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
grant who..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 4th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
‘the second rise in road user charges in 18 years..’
Is this true, cause I don’t believe it
Is this Philu liarbour propaganda???
July 4th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
absolutely not. helen is a megalomaniac. the blogosphere is her worst nightmare.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Rex I agree, and look forward to the best revealing themselves, for they haven’t yet, at least in the political field, of the calibre we require.
I’m starting to think I may have to go to Australia. Crikey.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Looks as if the desperados at the Standard have abandoned their platform and are invading ‘inside the beltway’ en masse
Quite humorous really http://stuff.co.nz//blogs/insidethebeltway/2008/07/03/the-new-front-in-political-warfare/
July 4th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
no riki..that is a fact..
the second increase..in 18 years..
kinda gives you a different perspective..that fact..
eh..?
as i said..they are greedy polluting bastards..
expecting the rest of the country to subsidise them..
q.e.d..
how ‘dumb’ do they think we are..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 4th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
thats 2 increases in 2 years. For the previous 16 years they overcharged RUC w.t.f..!..eh..?
July 4th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
“..For the previous 16 years they overcharged RUC w.t.f..!..eh..?..”
cute..!..eh..?
as i said ..
how dumb do they think we are..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 4th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Philu,
please read this. You have many of the signs, “marijuana smoking associated with ……….., tardiness, …., workers’ compensation claims, ……….”
Just imagine what your son will think of you later in life ???????eh?
Marijuana and Mental Health
At the present time, the strongest evidence links marijuana use and schizophrenia and/or related disorders. High doses of marijuana can produce an acute psychotic reaction, and research suggests that in vulnerable individuals, marijuana use may be a factor that increases risk for the disease.
Effects on Daily Life
Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life or make a person’s existing problems worse. In one study, heavy marijuana abusers reported that the drug impaired several important measures of life achievement including physical and mental health, cognitive abilities, social life, and career status. Several studies associate workers’ marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers’ compensation claims, and job turnover. http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html
“expecting the rest of the country to subsidise them..” haw haw haw. a bit rich coming from you ?
“how ‘dumb’ do they think we are..?” – do you want an answer?
July 4th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
i’ve said it before starr,,you are a fucken idiot..
your redkneck/prohibitionist attitudes towards cannabis only confirm this..
and there i was thinking that ‘personal freedoms’ were what righties were all about..eh..?
and if you think your non-answer/red herring does away with with that 18 years question..
that’s just another cadence/example of your chronic dumbness..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 4th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
So philu anybody who doesn’t smoke the dope is a red neck. What a lunatic.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Philu
you appear to remember what you said – so the memory hasn’t completely gone yet?
thats a good sign because it may not be too late
“your redkneck/prohibitionist attitudes” you mean the way you taunt Manolo about liquor outlets?
but there again I’m only thinking of the welfare of your son-
acute psychotic reaction
schizophrenia
cause problems in daily life
make a person’s existing problems worse
social life, and career status
July 4th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Patrick, poor philu, because he thought he spotted a thread called the Hikoi of Dope.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Saw the Labour Party scum who pose as journalists in the TV One newsroom taking the expected Klark line in their reports on the protest. If the Nats had any balls, the first thing they would do upon taking power should be to shut down this nest of soviet style vipers. Fire all the staff and sell off the equipment. That this vile and deceitful Stalinist/ Mugabe/ Chavez style organisation should be at the forefront of news in NZ is a circumstance that severely undermines the democratic process.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
RB
I noticed the same from Franchesca Mole. Couldn’t believe what she was saying, particularly when their own PO poll showed 95% support
D4J. I feel deeply for his son, poor little bugger
July 4th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
But Redbaiter,,
There’s always Campbell to contradict them
He didn’t get called a ‘little rat’ for nothing
July 4th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
There is absolutely no reason for the gummint to own a television station. It always produces the same outcome, a group of propagandists who merely push the left wing viewpoint on every issue. These people (the TV One newsroom) actually have the front to call themselves journalists, when they are really nothing more than partisan advocates for the left. Like the “journalists” who write the news for Chavez and Mugabe, in their subservience to Klark they are poisonous to democracy and traitors to their profession.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
“There’s always Campbell to contradict them”
Campbell is in fact as left wing as any of them, (a self proclaimed supporter of the Alliance/ Progressives, he only disagrees with Klark because she isn’t far enough left) and TV3 too are scum to employ this unprofessional slimy little communist wingnut at the forefront of their political current affairs division at the same time as they promote themselves as the flagship of private enterprise broadcasting. Just another pack of lying propagandizing socialists in the same vein as MSNBC and CNN and so many others. (I didn’t see his reports on the truck driver’s protest.) Who needs pretenders like Campbell? As they become more and more desperately partisan they become more and more useless as objective sources of news and comment. Fuck em I say. Rock on the blogosphere.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Campbell and Ralston used to spend their time in the TV3 Politcal press gallery office playing hide the sausage or corridor cricket. Can’t trust any journos. Best to follow the Buggerlugs family motto – Save Yourself, Kill Em All
July 5th, 2008 at 7:20 am
interesting how so many rightwingers see censorship as one of their political goals..
i wonder if they are able to see the disconnect between this..and their oft-professed cries for ‘freedom from tyranny!’..?-
..or are they just too knuckle-dragging fucken dumb/ignorant/unaware to even see that..?
phil(whoar.co.nz
July 5th, 2008 at 7:40 am
It’s a case of Labour not being able to quit while it’s behind.
The longer it waits for the election, the bigger the defeat. Now is the prefect time to corner the “sour grapes” market as Labour supporter will be really unhappy for a long time to come when the see with their own eyes the massive defeat their party suffers. Payback’s a bitch!
It will be hard working decent New Zealanders blowing the raspberry at Labour come election day.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I’d just like go on record as saying whatever your opinion may be of other posters, you should leave their fucking children and family out of it.
July 5th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Ernesto, the truckies gave you 48 hours notice, King gave them 0 hours whilst promising 28 days. I think Helen summed it up nicely with “diddums”. Also, I don’t own a truck and I walk to work so park your car anywhere you like. I should point out that if I did own a truck and you did park your car in front of it I’d ring the council and get them to have it towed, because parking there would be against the law. What law did the truckies break? I hate it when the boy racers clog the roads and stuff up the bus routes, doesn’t mean I get to use force to get my way no matter how righteous I feel.
Someone above was right on when the said that this wasn’t about the RUC price changes, it was about the lack of notice with complete disregard to workers and their families. I would have thought the lefties would be out their supporting the truckies but that was being a leftie used to be associated with being a worker or for workers rights, now it just seems that a leftie is anyone who blindly supports Helen. I think therefore you should all be called Helenites and stop giving the real lefties who contributed to the country a bad name.
July 5th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
A banner on one of the truckies (in Dunedin?) reads:
“Klark and Kullen lust for your money. Thank them in November”
July 5th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I just can’t wait till we get closer to the election
The anti smacking people are revved up
the truckies are revved up
The EFB people are revved up
The sensible sentencing trust are revved up
The only people happy at the moment are the Maori awarded the half billion
but they just need an excuse and they’ll be revved up too.
This is way, way exciting!!
July 5th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
May- That’s pretty cool. Truckies who perhaps not only read Kiwiblog, they also understand the significance of spelling those names with a K.
July 5th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
and that ‘signifigance’ is exactly what..?
aside from an infantile attempt at ‘satire’..?
..that reflects more on the paucity of original thinking of most righties..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 5th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
“and that ’signifigance’ is exactly what..?”
Well Phil, a truckie might get it given they have to have their wits about them to drive those rigs, but it doesn’t surprise me to see its beyond the ken of a dope crazed parasitical and worthless watermelon like you who couldn’t get off his useless arse or use his crippled and confused brain to save himself-
Kremlin, Nikita, KGB, Ukraine, Kruschev, Sputnik, Mikhael, Gulak, Troika, Vodka, Aparachik, Bolshevik, Cheka, Kommisar, Menshevik, Kulak, NKVD, Kalashnikov, Zek, Vostok, Katorga,
So is that khorosho??
July 5th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Hulun is going to get rolled soon – I can smell it.
When it happens, they’ll take Mikhael out as well.
Will that help Labour in the polls? I doubt it but it will at least allow the laybore opposition to start afresh.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:44 am
oh..gee..!..that’s quite ‘clever’..?..isn’t it..?
the first 100 or so times..
um..!..is that what passes for ‘clever’ debate/’satire’..amongst rightwing nutbars/nutjobs..?
is that it..?
(and i see you rely on that rightie standby..racism/’furriner’-bashing for your ‘material..?..)
phi(whoar.co.nz)
July 6th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I have to agree with expat on how things will play out after the election.
Both Hels and Cullen will be finished as political entities in this country. An excellent outcome for New Zealand.
I think Labour will wander around in the wilderness not knowing what it did wrong and consequently not being able to provide viable solutions to the electorate. It will be a cake walk for John Key.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:18 am
dream on..!..oecd..
you are getting a lab/grn/mp party..
and that’s gonna make you straighten-up
and fly ‘right’..
eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
July 6th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Labour are toast.
National has a very good chance of being able to govern by themselves and will have good allies in the Maori’s.
I think for whatever reason the greens will get a good whack of the party vote (lowest commond denominator and all that) and will be left as neuters again thanks to some whack jobs in the leadership.
Hulns leadership team i.e. her and mikhael must be watching their backs, dismal polls, widespread public rebellion etc
The night of the long knives is v.close.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
And then theres the election itself.
Can Hulun convince the caucus and the party to go to the polls early while she is still in control?
I’m picking as soon as the date is announced she’ll be despatched alongside the history teacher.
Goff comes in steady pair of hands to try and rebuild public faith in the last month.
Either way the nats will romp home.
The big question is, will Hulun stand in Mt Albert if she is evicted from leadership onto the back benches?