Winston's First or Last Act for Our NZ ?

Saw this in the Tell John Key to stick his ETS Facebook group:

"W*** R***: It's not a free country because we don't own our own money supply, OURNZ is the only party with the intent to solve this and a valid solution. Most of our politicians are either idiots or sell outs, with the exception of Winston, a couple in Act and a couple others, but NO other party will stand against fractional reserve banking, and for sovereign control of our money supply, hence we are not a country but a company 7 hours ago · 1 person"

Glad to see OURNZ is modelling itself on Winston (First) , and the (Last) ACT Party and hope they go well with their plans for getting a white man to win Te Tai Tokerau.

THE BROWN TABLE

Years ago, when we reported on Maori fisheries settlement there was much discussion on what was known as the Brown Table.

It was a play on the Round table and the knights of old. At the brown table sat Sir Tipene, Sir Robert Mahuta and Sir Graeme Latimer. They held enormous power. They were reviled and feared but by some loved and respected.

Today we have the iwi leaders forum. A group of Maori " leaders" who have been annointed by the government and in large by their own people. A pan tribal group with enormous status and power.

Now having one group to deal with when making far reaching and contentious policy decisions makes it easy for the government. Annette Sykes, the lefty warrior is right. Something is wrong with this elitist set up.

What is missing is the consultation. And whats missing is the advocacy for the disposessed Maori living in the cities.

There is a lot less hui-ing around serious issues back on the Marae these days. Its all done in the board room. Debate is not going back to the grass roots Maori for consideration.

Instead this group talk among themselves, meet in hotels and decide a course of action or support for government policy.

Some arrive to meetings in helicopters, others in limousines. They live in very flash houses and have the benefit of university educations. Their suits are tailored in Italy. Some have homes in France.

Some have built careers out of being nothing but " leaders." Their lives were of no account before the treaty settlement process and the Iwi leaders forum became the richest game in town.

Now, by and large, they look like they are "commercially focussed" That they are indulging in this high end political game for " their people."

However its a bit kata before the hoiho.

You see there is nothing aspirational in their leadership. they are becoming more and more distant from those whom they supposedly represent.

There is little change for Maori who struggle to get out of the poverty trap.

These "leaders" are not putting the same effort they do into global issues of little impact to every day Maori like mining and ETS, as they should into crime, health and housing.

They talk about it. Thats it - they talk -they are in danger of becoming the new talking upoko kohue . The nodding tiki who are so far up the government arse that they are coming out browner than when they went in.

These leaders instead have been seduced by status and money, the constant govt fawning means that they believe that they matter. They do - but not for the reasons they think.

You get the distinct feeling that if given a choice of a kai at that fancy big place on Tinakori Road or down at the local Marae on the same day - guess where they would be.

Occasionally they do " show pony" it down on the Marae -wave their sticks and indulge in a bit of " listen up aren't I clever" korero.

But its to tell their people what has been decided. There is less and less grass roots input into big social policy decisions and while the government has got them seduced by Mining and ETS by sending them to big flash overseas conferences where they think they look important, their people continue to languish.

They have become the one thing we used to criticise the old Brown Table of being - a group of sad old Uncle Toms - Kupapa to their own.

And Annette Sykes is right. Its not doing a dam thing for people who need to be led from the brink of a sad poverty stricken existence and back to enjoy the promised land.

SMITH IN HOT SEAT IN SOUTHLAND

Oh dear, it appears that there was a change in the climate in Southland tonight but it had nothing to do with Global warming and everything to do with people getting hot under the collar about the ETS.

Southland is famous for its fiestiness and although its pretty much a Blue ribbon province they are not so keen on the ETS.

You only have to go back to the late 70's, to the day the streets of Invercargill ran red with blood as farmers , distressed by a lengthy strike by the meatworkers unions in the middle of a drought, staged a macabre protest. They were desperate to get the starving stock off the farms and into the works. So they took their protest to the people and slaughtered stock on the main street of Invercargill. It was not a pleasant sight. The sheep were dying on their feet so for most it was a mercy killing. It was an event that earned the moniker Bloody Friday.

It worked.

So they are capable of getting their dander up. And it seems that the ETS has got them in a lather....

Nick Smith and Eric Roy would have had a tough time of it....

WE ARE WITH THEM

We love most of what the National government is doing but we dont love the ETS.
And it appears either do a lot of Nats. 

Its crap. simple. Really dumb. We hate it.  We want that on the record. And we want it known that we think its the dumbest idea since well, this for starters...



anyone got a better dumbest idea?

LOBSTER AND LOBBYISTS

Tonight we went to one of the premium events of the Wellington Xmas calendar, the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Annual Christmas do. It used to be held at the Tug Boat and it was famous for some very very long nights studded with raucous behaviour and that was just the knights and the Ministers.

Tonights affair was at Mac's Brewery in the function room. While 30 percent of those who were there were old friends and familiar faces - over 16 years the human landscape has changed a bit.

They no longer have a top journalism prize, which in its day was the richest in the country at $12,000 in travel. ( We won it once) We suggest that maybe they award a prize to the most interesting blog!

There were fewer shiny arses , fewer lawyers, accountants, and more iwi reps at this years party.

And in an old and fine tradition the taxi drivers,who cart the out of towners from the airport to meetings, quaffed beer alongside knights and captains of industry..

So overall it was a good do.

And in a long tradition crayfish was served and continued to be served until no-one could eat another half tail. This year everyone was talking about the meaty ice clams , the latest new shell fish.

They are spectacular but they were served badly, they were overcooked and over seasoned. These are a delicate fish and they deserve the loving attention of a top chef. And while the crayfish was perfectly cooked, it should never, ever be served with the gut cord still attached. The Maori seafood industry , like the NZ seafood industry should always remember to showcase their product in the best possible way. While to most of the attendees it was good tucker - it was not fine food - and it is fine food that out nation should always produce everywhere, everytime to everybody. It is after all the raison d'etre of the industry

It was also not a good night to be a white chocolate ( Ngai Tahu chick) from the deep south. The ETS has created a division we hoped wouldn't be too deep - but it is. There were definite barbs about the fat rich Ngai Tahu from the deep south. ( we admit to being a bit porky and Ngai Tahu but we are not rich)
There is a definite anger about the deal that really only delivers benefits to a favoured few. So while there are still disparities between Maori and Pakeha, there is a growing disparity within Maoridom as well and it has caused anger and resentment. It will become a bigger issue as the details and their impact become apparent.

It was also the night to say goodbye to a knight - Archie Taiaroa, one of the finest gentlemen we have known. He is a quiet, man, humble, wise and gracious. He will be missed. The affable Ngahiwi Tomoana is taking over and although he has big shoes to fill he will do a fine job.

HOT STUFF

We are still pondering the ETS deal. Never ever before have we seen right wing commentators to a man and woman be so universal in their critical condemnation of a political decision.

And that criticism also extends to the venal play by Ngai Tahu which has seen them " secure" the planting rights to about 30,000ha of unused DOC land in the South Island to plant native forests.. They can claim the carbon credits for what they plant but they have to manage the forests and they have to plant them as well. We reckon analysis further down the track will show its the most crap deal any iwi has ever signed up to.

And a good Maori mate reckons the fellas who are taking the free trip to the Climate Change talks in Copenhagen as part of the Maori Party deal look like - quote, " house niggers"

Tough term but apt.

We wonder if ace guitarist and songster Tim Groser has been practicing Ten Guitars for the trip with the bro's. Or maybe he will get everyone singing " Hot Stuff"
Or maybe Burning down the house.


We think that Nick Smith is actually the fall guy in all this. We reckon there will be a big dip in the polls as the public comes to grips with the ETS and its ramifications.
Smith is Keys sacrificial lamb. He gets the shit job of shoving through all the unpopular legislation like climate change and ACC and then we reckon that Key will cut him lose and demote him as a succour to an angry public. The result - a bounce back in the polls.

Did we say that? Nah must have been a flight of fancy -too much red wine. Key is way too nice to do that to Smith- isn't he?

We not to sure if we want to laugh or cry....

ETS = BUMMER

We really dont know what more to say other than today was crap- we are disgusted and dismayed for all the reasons we have outlined in previous posts.

JUSTA THOUGHT....

If there is an iwi support group going to the Copenhagen Climate Change Talkfest, as part of the ETS deal, will they ask Hone Harawira how they can get to Paris?

And will they fly to gay Paris or take a bus?

And how do the iwi support group plan to offset the environmental cost of the trip or is that being built into the DOC deal?

And who is paying for the cost of the lawyers or is the government picking up the tab?

Like, we are just curious.. thats all...

CLIMATE CHANGE SCANDAL BREAKING

It started here in NZ after Investigate magzine confirmed that some leaked emails circulating on the internet, from one of the worlds leading climate change research centres in Britain were not a hoax. Its a very curious tale of hacked emails that appear to question the integrity of the the Climate change promoters.

The story is now global and in the main stream..and Gotcha has the best summary in the blogosphere.

BROWNMAIL - A FISCALLY F**KED ENVELOPE

For some reason we couldn't sleep last night and instead of counting sheep - we resorted to counting trees.

Now we said that there was no way we were going to blog about Ngai Tahu and associated iwi sneaking around in back rooms trying to work out a deal with the government for support for the ETS.

But this issue is too big.

Once New Zealand mums and dads people cotton to the basic premise - hand outs for noisy Maori - there will be a public outcry.

We have in the past suggested that Ngai Tahu needs to get out of grievance mode and get on with doing good works and making money with what they have.
In other words they have had their settlement, its up to them now to show their beneficiaries and indeed the rest of New Zealand that they can add value to their assets.

National is in thrall of the global green chalice. An ETS scheme...

So Ngai Tahu, who has a bevy of lawyers, who after a decade know how to press government buttons - raises the spectre of legal action.

National folds and tries to work out a deal that will placate them and buy their support. So they chuck them a bone in the shape of unused Doc land where they can plant a few beech trees and claim the carbon credits.. Which is fine, plant trees , sell the credits, bank the money, live off the interest..

Looks good. Apart from the fact that there is no way that the trees can be cut down without incurring a liability. They have to buy back the credits. so a contingent liability exists and according to Smith in Fran O'sullivans excellent column on the issue, iwi will own that liability.
So its a crap deal.

Based on a weak kneed government that wants to sip from the Green Cup so its willing to sell its soul.

And an iwi that rather than concentrating on becoming a business with dividends for beneficiaries goes back again to the biggest trough of all - free government money.

Its a deal not available to other foresters, so it is race based. As Fran so rightly puts it - its brownmail. We reckon that term will become part of the NZ lexicon.

We are ashamed of our iwi for being so venal. If they had joined the pre 1990 forest lobbyists and fought to keep those forests out of the ETS, there would not have been an issue and that deal would have benefited all Maori, not just a few iwi, who are being manipulated by their lawyers for a very short term gain.

CLUSTER F**K ALERT

Radio NZ has leaked papers show that Maori are wanting a treaty type deal over forest plantings.

Remember all this against a backdrop of legal advice that shows that iwi are standing on the head of a pin over their claims that the government didnt tell them about the ETS when they negotiated the treaty settlements over a decade ago.

Considering that the ETS has only been around as a concept for about 7 years its crap to think that it would have come up in negotiations.

So we think this is a bloody barmy idea. It will incense other iwi who miss out and rightly so. And why should iwi commercial interests be treated any differently than any other commercial interest???

Carbon news also appears to have the insiding running on the political machinations surrounding the ETS


According to Carbon News;

The Maori Party is deeply divided over changes to the emissions trading scheme – but wont split its vote on the issue.They reckon that three of it's five MP's don't support it but they will still back the legislation.. and are likely to file a Minority report and they say

they say that the Maori Party dont like the current scheme, introduced by Labour because, it didnt go far enough in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Apparently they have got some concessions like

protecting low-income families from rising energy costs as a result of the scheme, the shifting of the allocation of free carbon credits from fishing boat owners to quota holders, and the inclusion of references to the Treaty of Waitangi in the ETS.

Carbon News also reckons the Maori party pushed hard at the select committee forcing 5 days of deliberations instead of the one the govt had reckoned on.

MP's Rahui Katene and Hone Harawira are at odds with the rest of the MP's.

Carbon news says if these two voted against it , it would prevent the bill going ahead.


Yip this issue has all the hallmarks of a grade A cluster f**ck.

WOMAN OF MANY PARTS

We are sticking to our guns and not blogging on Ngai Tahu politics. However Gotcha has a very interesting post on a woman who seems to be doing everything for everyone.. We may follow up in due course but what Whale has uncovered will be of note to anyone with an interest in Maori and especially Ngai Tahu politics.

and for the record - Whales opinions are not ours.

Definitely a wahine toa to watch.

SOFT WOOD - HARD TALK

There’s a six billion dollar fight over the ETS about to blow up. That’s how much Maori-owned forestry land has been devalued by the ETS.

The issue is the inclusion of pre-1990 forestry in the scheme. That’s trees planted more than 20 years ago – so radiata forests that are ready to be harvested, or slower growing species.

New Zealand is the only country in the world to include these forests in an ETS – no one else is even thinking about doing something so stupid.

Nick Smith’s forestry folly means that if you have one of these forests and it’s time to harvest it, and you want to do something else with the land – like build a wind farm – you have to buy $20,000 of carbon credits for every hectare.

It’s so much, that of course you can’t afford not to replant so your land has to stay in forestry forever. That means its worth much less – about $6 billion less according to the widely respected Federation of Maori Authorities (aka FoMA).

Now you’d think the Maori Party would be all over this issue. New Zealand stands alone as the only country willing to impose massive financial penalties on forestry (and agriculture) in the name of climate change – and these are the sectors where Maori have most of their money tied up.

But we’ve heard on the kumara vine that the Maori Party is of the belief that the Iwi Leaders Forum set up by the Ministry for the Environment supports the inclusion of pre-1990 forests in the ETS.

We hear that in fact most of the members of the Iwi leadership forum are strongly against the forests being in the scheme, but the Ministry for the Environment bureaucrats are telling the politicians the opposite.

So Tariana Turia went on national TV today to say the Maori Party supports the ETS because iwi do.

They don’t. FoMA and the northern tribes are going to be turning up the heat on this issue this week and a few iwi leadership forum members are going to get their heads chopped off in the process. Tariana’s won’t be happy when she finds out she was deceived and managed to piss off most of the main Maori forestry players throughout the country.

At the same time, Ngai Tahu reckons it can come to a separate arrangement that will see them get a bigger cash payout for agreeing to the inclusion.

That is appalling in itself. At a time when they should be standing shoulder to shoulder with all other tribes (and all other forestry owners) they have decided to take a course of action that lines their pockets and does not take into account the economic security of the forestry and agriculture sectors.

Ngai Tahu would do better to look at growing their assets instead of looking for the easy way to stick the government for more cash.

However the good news is that we also understand that the government has started to lose patience with Ngai Tahu and Tainui who seem to act like teenagers still trying to bone ma and pa for some Friday night beer money instead of getting on with working out ways how they can stand on their own financial feet.

They cant keep coming back and finding creative excuses for more hand outs just because they spent all their money on the equivalent of lollies and lotto.

Yet another reason for a change of leadership at the Ngai Tahu's "Table" or ruling council.

So it could prove to be another embarrassing week for the Maori Party if they end up getting blindsided on this issue on top of the MTS debacle.

We can't work out why the Maori Party would even think that the inclusion of pre 1990 forests could ever be a good thing. It is the biggest raupatu since the 19^th century and all the main players in Maoridom know it.

NICK SHOTS HIMSELF IN FOOT - NO ACCIDENT

Bummer it looks like Nick is in a bit of schtuck over his comments over ACC suicide payments being a bit of an incentive for people to kill themselves. We reckon he is bloody right. We are in a recession and its logical that the idea you can top yourself and the state will provide for your kids and missus would be something you would think about. We are very staunch on the individuals right to top themselves whenever they want but there is no way that we think the state should pay.

Now the big problem for Smith is that he has two of the most significant and controversial pieces of legislation in ACC and Climate Change needing to be bedded in. And like the Rugby World Cup debacle it seems that the governments cross party relations are a little shaggy. They need to appoint someone and quick to manage the interparty relationships. We also understand that Smiths management of these issues is also starting to worry Key. As well it should.

KEISHA NEEDS ECONOMICS 101, NOT A CHAT WITH THE PM

We were saddened to see that John Key had apologised to Keisha Castle Hughes using her acting ability to promote the Climate change debate. Now she has status and her flakey Greenpeace cause has more credence.

And Greenpeace should not get support from the Government.

National wimps on the ETS

Whale oil
This from the Blue whale who is suddenly changing colour.



I was reading stories to my kids when I was called by a friend, a long-serving MP, who told me that the National Party had voted to support the Emissions Trading Scam (ETS) by stopping it from going back to Select Committee.
Obviously this can’t be true, but I thought I would tell you what my source told me anyway.
Apparently, some parties in parliament thought that the Bill involves very significant Treaty of Waitangi issues that should be considered by the Select Committee, but which haven’t been so far.
I think they are right. The ETS will destroy at least $2 billion of Maori wealth, and even more of Pakeha wealth.
But my source told me the National Party didn’t care about this. Apparently, the National Party VOTED WITH LABOUR, against the Maori, ACT and Green parties, to push through the legislation tonight. If National had voted with the Maori, ACT and Green parties, the legislation would have failed.
According to my source, the National Party’s residual Don-Brash-perspective on the Treaty of Waitangi issues means they would prefer to vote with Labour, in favour of the ETS, rather than vote with other parties, like the Maori Party, to stop the ETS. Bashing Maoris is more important than protecting our economy from Labour/Green madness.
Surely this is not true. If it is, then fuck them. It would mean National was even worse than Labour and that we should all vote ACT. Right now, I still plan to vote for my local National candidate but I am not voting for a party that supports the ongoing taxation of people based on dodgy un-proven science and the support of a corrupt, morally bankrupt party lead by a proven liar.


shame on the nats.... I suggested today that the National party today had a chance to create a point of difference...

They didnt - Im not sure if I am angry or sad but I want some answers....

The ETS cannot go through

Whale Oil says Winston was trying to get money for his vote on the ETS ....

Those big businesses need to come forward with the evidence of bribes and then the Labour government would have no choice but to stop this legislation in its tracks...

Do the right thing Winnie -

Methinks it will be a cold day in hell before Winston does the right thing but good on Max for trying!


This from the Hive and the Queen Bee



From: Hon. Max Bradford Sent: Wednesday, 10 September 2008 11:30 a.m.To: winston.peters@parliament.govt.nzSubject: Doing the Right Thing at a Late StageWinstonI appreciate the extraordinary pressure you must be under at the present time. It appears the Prime Minister is about to use the axe on you, if the kites being flown by the 9th floor at the media are any guide.Can I make a suggestion to you?I am sure the country would think far better of you if you were to withdraw NZ First’s support for the Emissions Trading legislation at the Third Reading stage. It is a terrible piece of proposed law with far reaching impacts on New Zealanders, and in particular on your support base, the elderly.It isn’t that NZ doesn’t need a well thought-out policy on climate change. But the Bill before Parliament, which your Party is currently supporting, isn’t it.For Labour to expect that the legislation will work for ordinary Kiwis when they have to introduce 785 amendments at the Committee stages of the bill, after hundreds following the Select Committee examination, is mind boggling proof that the government is going to get it wrong. It’ll be ordinary people who suffer, not the Labour ministers and their supporters who’ll have departed the scene by then.So I urge you, even at this late stage, to withdraw support for the Bill . Let Parliament have a more rational and considered look at the best policy for NZ in the early stages of the next Parliament – perhaps you’ll be part of that process too.If you do so, the public will think better of you when – or should I say if - Helen Clark wields the axe in the next few days.Her action will then look like a vindictive response to your principled withdrawal of support for legislation that is inimical to everybody’s interests in this country.RegardsMaxHon. Max BradfordDirectorBradford & Associates LtdLevel 8, 90 The TerraceP O Box 8040Wellington 6145NEW ZEALAND

National can stop the ETS - mandatory reading

Hooton calls on the National party to kill off the ETS..


He right its time for some more decisive action from Key.

This is too important a piece of legislation to be rushed through - it will irrevocably change our lives yet it is the most ill considered legislation we have seen in generations.

more hot air from Winston

http://www.winstonpeters.com/archives/289


sounds like he wrote this one himself