Posts by David Clendon

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  Southern Sojourns of a ‘mostly rational’ MP - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I have spent much of this recess week  in (sometimes) sunny Otago and Southland, and despite being about as far from my own rohe as it is possible to be without leaving the country, I found plenty to admire and enjoy. I made my first visit to a South Island  prison,  the Otago Correctional Facility, [...] read more
  April 5, 2013 3:53 pm - No Comments
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  ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ – Justice for all? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The Corrections Amendment Bill has been back in the House this week – on Tuesday for its second reading, yesterday for the committee stages, and depending on progress in the House  it may come back later today (Thursday) for its third and final reading. The Bill is a shabby piece of lawmaking, which among other [...] read more
  February 14, 2013 12:55 pm - 13 Comments
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  D.I.Y. Lawyering in the Family Court? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Last week the Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill got its first reading in Parliament.  There are 58 family courts around the country, and while it is a place most people would no doubt prefer to avoid, the courts nevertheless have a very high case load, especially in regards to the Care of Children Act. The [...] read more
  December 13, 2012 9:12 am - 2 Comments
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  If New Zealand was a banana, would we be getting sued? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  There is a bit of a David and Goliath battle shaping up in the intellectual property domain, with NGO Fairtrade New Zealand and Australia taking on one of the world’s largest fruit suppliers, Dole bananas. Dole has been on notice that its so-called ‘ethical choice’  label is misleading.  A consumer might reasonably believe that it [...] read more
  November 28, 2012 9:58 am - 3 Comments
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  Faith no more. - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The news that the faith-based unit at Rimutaka prison is to be closed is disappointing, to say the least.  The unit and the programmes  run there for nearly a decade have routinely been praised for changing attitudes and lives of the participants, including some people with long  histories of criminal  offending, and often serious offending. [...] read more
  October 30, 2012 3:51 pm - 2 Comments
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  Message to media – jump or be pushed? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Last weekend, on The Nation, Justice Minister Judith Collins gave the media a pretty big clue that she thinks there is a problem with the way we are seeing crime and justice processes reported.  The Minister likened the TV coverage of the Ewen Macdonald murder trial to reality television.  I take a slightly different view [...] read more
  September 27, 2012 8:45 pm - 5 Comments
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  The high cost of bad policy - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Today I spoke in the budget debate, and pointed to the craziness of continuing to spend over $1.1 billion dollars a year to keep more people in prison for longer. In a pre-budget release, we learned that  $65 million of operating expenditure from Vote Corrections would be ‘reprioritised’ over four years in a way that we are [...] read more
  May 30, 2012 10:19 pm - 15 Comments
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  Round(ing)Up Auckland’s weeds? Who decides? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  A couple of recent articles in the Aucklander  reveal that we might once again have to fight a battle that we thought was  ’won’ more than a decade ago.   The old Auckland City and North Shore City councils had a largely chemical-free regime in place to manage roadside weeds, following many years of public concern and [...] read more
  May 18, 2012 12:26 pm - 4 Comments
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  Digital Earth coming to Wellington - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Last night I enjoyed attending the launch of the 4th Digital Earth Summit 2012, that Wellington City will be co-hosting (along with Land Information New Zealand)  in September this year. It is not the first time that Digital Earth has come to New Zealand – Auckland hosted it in 2006, thanks largely to the efforts [...] read more
  May 9, 2012 1:05 pm - No Comments
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  Buy local or shop online? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The often tense relationship between  ’bricks and mortar’ retailers and proponents of online shopping has come to the fore again this week.  NZ Post and Customs will be devoting more resource to screening goods being brought into the country by online shoppers, to assess liability (or not) for GST. The issue is not new, nor [...] read more
  April 26, 2012 2:05 pm - 10 Comments
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  Anal-ysis, Corrections Style. - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Most New Zealanders would agree that we live in a country where human rights are  protected, where we willingly comply with international agreements to treat people fairly and humanely, and civil rights are respected. Most of the time, they would be right.  Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly evident that in the case of people convicted or even accused of crimes, we are not [...] read more
  April 23, 2012 2:27 pm - 3 Comments
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  Justice by other means? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The Editor of the Dominion Post newspaper has come out very strongly in favour of a legislative change that would ensure the continued imprisonment of  Stewart Wilson, the so called ‘beast of Blenheim’. Wilson has served 18 years in prison, is coming to the end of his sentence, and under existing law must be released no later than [...] read more
  April 20, 2012 8:36 am - 21 Comments
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  Repeat after me: no environment, no economy… - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The Government’s Minister in Charge of Many Things, Stephen Joyce, has become repetitive in his claim that those who oppose his economic agenda are simply anti-business, anti-jobs, anti-science,  anti-New Zealand making its way in the world.  This claim, most recently recounted in relation to the dirty deal being proposed to increase problem gambling in Auckland, is in equal [...] read more
  April 4, 2012 10:26 pm - 11 Comments
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  New (private) prisons for old? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The Government’s announcements about prisons old and new are becoming more and more difficult to comprehend. We recently heard that despite a levelling off of the prison muster, and the government’s professed confidence that they have in place strategies to reduce offending and recidivism, Ministers Tolley and English have  nevertheless determined that we need yet [...] read more
  March 19, 2012 1:06 pm - 13 Comments
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  A criminal waste of money – Wiri prison goes ahead - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Today we got some very bad news, and frankly quite unexpected news, when Ministers Tolley and English announced the government’s intention to build yet another fiscal and moral failure, a 960 bed prison at Wiri in South Auckland. I had (foolishly, it seems) been optimistic that a more enlightened social policy and good economic sense [...] read more
  March 8, 2012 11:17 pm - 5 Comments
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  The best policing money can buy? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  It is worrying to see that the government is looking to make drastic cuts from the policing budget, despite this posing real risks to some of the more progressive policies emerging in that portfolio. I’m never persuaded by reassurances that ‘front line’ resources will not be reduced.  I saw first hand in the tertiary sector how [...] read more
  March 6, 2012 10:03 am - 18 Comments
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  Green Growth, past and future - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  On Saturday I attended the launch of the Green Growth Advisory Group’s report on ‘greening’  New Zealand’s growth.  As well as being an interesting cultural experience in its own right, it was useful to hear first hand some of the ideas and expectations that flow from the document. The Greens see a lot in the [...] read more
  March 6, 2012 9:15 am - 6 Comments
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  A precautionary tale - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Following is an extract from Hansard, recording an exchange I had with energy Minister Hekia Parata back in April.  The question was asked at a time when iwi, hapu, environmental groups and others were trying to persuade the government that issuing permits for deep water drilling is a bad idea. David Clendon: What is the [...] read more
  October 10, 2011 9:52 am - 9 Comments
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  Cycling for Habitat - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Last Saturday I went to Botany for what I thought would be a ‘routine’ event, speaking to members of the public and saying some nice things about Habitat for Humanity.  I’m always happy to support this group, who do great work helping people into decent affordable homes. They managed to build about 50 homes for [...] read more
  October 5, 2011 4:45 pm - No Comments
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  Frack No! Sign the Petition - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  A lot of New Zealanders  have not yet heard about hydraulic fracturing (fracking), but many of those who do know something about it are worried, and rightly so! The technique is used to extract ‘unconventional’ oil and gas – that’s industry speak for sources of hydrocarbons that until recently were deemed too expensive or difficult to [...] read more
  September 29, 2011 11:01 am - 16 Comments
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  Corrections fail to correct, justice perpetuates crime - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Two reminders today that this (and  previous) governments’ punitive approach to crime and punishment is failing dismally, at enormous economic and social cost, and it needs to change. The Herald highlights the massive cost of building new prisons, with the proposed Wiri project having cost us over $20 million before construction even begins.  The prison [...] read more
  September 13, 2011 10:01 am - 12 Comments
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  Fiddling about with e-Waste - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I’m  puzzled as to why the Minister for the Environment is so unwilling to use the provisions of the Waste Minimisation Act to deal much more effectively with the issue of e-Waste in New Zealand. Dr Smith has announced today that he is  “…asking businesses to come forward with innovative solutions on how we can [...] read more
  September 8, 2011 9:00 am - 2 Comments
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  Boom times for oil and gas? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  This morning’s  Dominion article about ‘boom times’ for the gas and oil exploration industry is an intriguing, even slightly funny, mix of boosterism, drum beating and dissimulation. The Chair of PEPANZ appears almost breathless with excitement as he seeks to fulfil the primary objective of his organisation, “to publicise, promote and advance the interests of [...] read more
  September 7, 2011 9:59 am - 6 Comments
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  Democracy, secrecy, and good process. - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  On Thursday, Keith Locke and I spent a good part of the day in the House going to bat against the government’s ‘secret squirrel’ bill to amend the Police Act that Frog blogged on earlier .  Our objections to the bill were matters both of process and substance.  I want to comment here just on the process, which was appalling, [...] read more
  August 19, 2011 12:24 pm - 5 Comments
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  Beware “the racial bogeyman!” - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The editorial in this week’s NBR puts an ill-informed boot into Maoridom in a manner that would bring joy to Don Brash – in fact for all I know he may have written it! Under the guise of assessing the membership of the recently appointed constitutional advisory panel, the extraordinary excursion into purple prose seeks [...] read more
  August 12, 2011 5:29 pm - 13 Comments
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  Justice Reinvestment – the high cost of prison - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I took an opportunity yesterday to speak in the Appropriations debate on the ‘moral and fiscal failure’ that is our prison system.  Vote Corrections for 2011/2012 is set at a little over $1.1 billion, about two and a half times what it was a decade ago. That is an enormous amount of money to spend [...] read more
  August 10, 2011 9:18 am - 29 Comments
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  Never mind the facts, give us an opinion! - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  It seems the Far-From-Sensible Sentencing Trust is getting set to launch into another round of tub-thumping about how we are all too soft on crime; let’s lock ‘em up and throw away the key before we’re all murdered in our beds; it’s a jungle out there; etc, etc. Apparently they commissioned some research in May “…on [...] read more
  July 13, 2011 9:18 am - 7 Comments
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  Invest in sustainability or uddermine our future? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Some straight talking from Michael Coote in an NBR (July 1st) article about the Indian economy. Noting the government’s enthusiasm for a free trade agreement with India,  Coote writes that : “The D-word – dairy – cited by Mr Key in in linking together the wonders of free trade with China and India should give [...] read more
  July 11, 2011 9:00 am - 7 Comments
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  Donald Brash, racism, and political advantage - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I almost feel sorry for ordinary members and supporters of the Act party.  Most of them base their support on a shared belief in laissez faire free market capitalism; a preference for a small, ‘non-interventionist’ state; and a form of social liberalism that gives primacy to the rights of the individual. That’s not a worldview [...] read more
  July 9, 2011 8:45 am - 56 Comments
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  ‘Green Growth’ – making it real. - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I’m looking forward to seeing what the Pure Advantage group come up with later today when they launch their campaign “to deliver world-leading improvements to our economy, our environmental performance and the living standards of all New Zealanders”.  I suspect it will be considerably more innovative and better informed than what we saw earlier this week from the government-appointed  [...] read more
  July 7, 2011 3:45 pm - 15 Comments
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  The real costs of Hide’s mismanagement of SuperCity - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Usually we are all a bit pleased if our predictions are proved in time to be right.  But in this instance I would have been happier to be wrong!  Last December I blogged about the train wreck that was already in progress within Auckland City’s staffing, as good skilled people the Council could ill-afford to [...] read more
  May 12, 2011 12:24 pm - 2 Comments
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  Submissions to Auckland Spatial Plan Discussion - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Calling all Jafas! – and all those others who care about the future shape and form of our Queen city.  I have run a couple of meetings this week to inform and encourage people to make a submission to Auckland Unleashed, the discussion document that will influence the Spatial Plan.  There is a lot in the document that [...] read more
  May 12, 2011 11:16 am - No Comments
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  Freedom of expression at Auckland University? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  An extraordinary story has emerged from the usually genteel environment of a University graduation. Auckland University staff went to remarkable lengths, including physical restraint, to try to prevent a graduating student (who also happens to be a member of University staff and the national co-convenor of the Young Greens) from receiving his Master of Law degree [...] read more
  May 4, 2011 11:09 am - 1 Comment
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  Restoring the Kaipara Harbour - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I was really inspired when taking part in a hui at Puatahi Marae on Sunday, an open day for the Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group.  The group’s title is a mouthful, but there is nothing complicated about the vision they share, which is to restore the Kaipara, its mauri, its quality and its ecosystems back to what [...] read more
  April 18, 2011 5:58 pm - 1 Comment
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  Proxy voting for Hone Harawira - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The Green Party has agreed to cast proxy votes for Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira. A formal agreement takes effect from today, although we have served as Hone’s proxy on an ad-hoc basis in recent weeks. We are currently casting a proxy for Te Atatū MP Chris Carter as well and the rationale is [...] read more
  April 14, 2011 10:09 am - 5 Comments
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  Productivity gains or party politics? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  This week the Productivity Commission has been given its first task.  The Commission came into being late one Saturday night last December, with the house under urgency, and the Greens the only party in opposition to it. In the first reading speech I said of the proposed Commission : “It could reinforce outmoded, destructive, and [...] read more
  April 1, 2011 12:27 pm - 15 Comments
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  Tertiary education cuts still not healing - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The Tertiary Education Union is concerned that NorthTec is looking to cut positions in trades training at a time when there is already a serious skills shortage.   We can expect the demand for trades people will only increase when the rebuilding of Christchurch begins in earnest, and the development of infrastructure in Auckland proceeds apace, among other things.  I’m [...] read more
  March 31, 2011 1:08 pm - 2 Comments
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  Leave oil before oil leaves us - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  ‘Auckland Unleashed’ is the catchy title of the draft discussion document that will inform the proposed Auckland Spatial plan.  In an earlier blog post I indicated the political battle looming between Auckland’s elected councillors and central Government, who have very different visions for the city’s future. Auckland City’s discussion document makes the case for a compact city, [...] read more
  March 28, 2011 2:34 pm - 29 Comments
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  Who will determine Auckland’s future? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The cabinet papers that Rodney Hide has released relating to Auckland’s Spatial Plan make for interesting reading. It is obvious that this government will attempt to call the tune on Auckland’s development, despite the substantial mandate that Auckland voters gave to their mayor and council just a few months ago. A  discussion document that will in part inform the Spatial [...] read more
  March 21, 2011 4:56 pm - 7 Comments
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  US pressures NZ to tailor legislation for trade access - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  According to a report from Radio NZ, a (nameless) United States congressman was happy to tell delegates that if New Zealand wanted to get anywhere with the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement then we may need to alter our intellectual property laws. read more
  March 9, 2011 5:00 pm - 6 Comments