economy Archive

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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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  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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  Fair hearing for Denniston in Environment Court - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Forest and Bird deserves every success in its Environment Court case to protect the distinctive coal measures ecosystems and landscapes of the Denniston Plateau. This week the Court began hearing the Society’s appeal against West Coast councils granting resource consents under the RMA to Australian miner, Bathurst Resources’ destructive plans for an open cast coal [...] read more
  October 30, 2012 2:04 pm - 1 Comment
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  The damaging dollar – how to ease exporters and save jobs - by frog

  
  
  
  As you might be aware, Russel floated a proposal in the weekend to address our high dollar which is damaging our exporters and manufacturers and costing kiwi’s jobs. We pulled together a brief Q&A to help explain the proposal. Why does getting the dollar down matter? Our dollar is over-valued because all our trading partners [...] read more
  October 8, 2012 12:49 pm - 180 Comments
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  A fairer society is a richer society - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  A new United Nations Trade and Development Report has found that reducing taxes for those who earn the most has not delivered widespread economic prosperity, as promised. In fact, the UN has found that such policies have caused developed economies to stagnate and grow increasingly unequal. The UN report found that better income distribution within [...] read more
  September 14, 2012 12:56 pm - 14 Comments
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  Growing the Greens – AGM weekend - by frog

  
  
  
  This Queen’s Birthday weekend, the Green Party held its AGM at Upper Hutt’s native bush-surrounded Silverstream retreat with ‘Growing the Greens’ the appropriate theme. The largest Green Party AGM yet kicked off on Friday 1st June by celebrating the founding of the Values Party some 40 years ago. This was the party from which the [...] read more
  June 5, 2012 4:55 pm - 6 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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  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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  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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  Can’t or won’t? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  On Tuesday, Steven Joyce, Minister of Economic Development and Science and Innovation, wrote about the ‘you cant’s’ of our country, in an opinion piece in the NZ Herald. Feeling that perhaps I am one of those people he criticises as ‘people who in the one breath chant “more jobs, more jobs” and then in the next breath say “but don’t do that, or that, or that”, I thought I would ask Mr Joyce a few questions about why he and... read more
  February 10, 2012 2:11 pm - 102 Comments
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  The Christmas story: Russel Norman’s Address in Reply speech - by frog

  
  
  
  “These are the values that help to lay down the essential nature of what it means to be human and guide us to live a ‘good’ life – good to ourselves, good to one another, and good to the world in which we make our livelihoods.” – Russel Norman. Address in Reply speeches are long, [...] read more
  December 21, 2011 9:48 pm - 9 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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  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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  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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  ‘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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  An inspiring and visionary look at the NZ economy - by frog

  
  
  
  If you want a clear and exciting alternative to “More dairy, more mining“, look no further than this! Sir Paul Callaghan busts some common myths about ourselves and puts for a vision for our future that everyone can get excited about. Watch the presentation on YouTube. Sadly embedding of the video has been disabled for [...] read more
  June 3, 2011 9:59 am - 33 Comments
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  Blackball Mayday Speech - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  While some others were focused on political events elsewhere in the country, I was in Blackball for the annual Mayday celebrations and for the launch of a memorial wheel for those who have lost their lives in West Coast mines in recent years, most notably the Pike River 29. Families had made tiles with the [...] read more
  May 1, 2011 11:59 am - 2 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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  Paying to rebuild Christchurch: A small temporary earthquake levy - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  While the horror of Christchurch’s second earthquake continues to unfold, those of us not immediately involved in the recovery can begin to plan for the rebuilding of a city and the livelihoods of those who live there. The question that immediately comes to mind is how are we going to pay for the recovery and [...] read more
  February 25, 2011 9:45 am - 76 Comments
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  State of the Planet speech 2011 - by frog

  
  
  
  Last Sunday Russel gave the annual State of the Planet speech to a packed and excited crowd at Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland. It was a great and powerful speech that clearly defined the Green vision for Aotearoa. Russel also attacked National and Labour for bludging off our grandchildren and pulling the ladder of opportunity [...] read more
  February 3, 2011 9:22 am - 11 Comments
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  Green ravings = government policy, apparently. - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  My second favourite comic strip is Matthew Hooton’s weekly contribution to the National Business Review. The NBR is a useful read – its political perspective and analysis is generally different from mine, and they break some interesting stories. In the latest (December 3rd) issue, Mr Hooton reveals that, “…everyone from Mr [Trevor] Mallard to Mr [...] read more
  December 6, 2010 8:00 am - 18 Comments
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  Who’s slowing Auckland down? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The skirmish that has broken out between Mike Lee and Steven Joyce could well herald the opening of an all out war. Len Brown came into office on a platform (among other things) of advocating strongly for public transport investment, with a key project being the CDB rail loop to open up the ‘dead end’ that is Britomart, which will reduce the congestion in the inner city area that imposes significant cost on businesses as well as compromising the ability... read more
  November 10, 2010 3:23 pm - 33 Comments
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  Key in denial about inevitable impact of carbon charges and oil shocks - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  John Key’s reaction to the distance-based UK departure tax shows just how out of touch he is about our economic future. This Government is deeply in denial. There is no question that climate change and rising fossil fuel prices will change travel patterns, and we should be taking this future into account in our tourism [...] read more
  November 3, 2010 2:45 pm - 16 Comments
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  Will Labour really take action on child poverty? - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  Annette King’s speech to the Labour Party conference over the weekend was all about how Labour’s policy will focus on children and “put our children first”. It all sounds quite familiar, but, all cynicism aside, it is really good to hear Labour talking like this. The more political parties put children at the heart of [...] read more
  October 18, 2010 10:32 pm - 138 Comments
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  Obama and Greens encourage support for small business - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I’m not suggesting that Barack Obama has been keeping an eye on our Green party policy, but his recent highlighting of the economic and social value of small business certainly rings some familiar bells! read more
  August 19, 2010 5:35 pm - 20 Comments
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  Doing the business with businesses - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  July has been a busy month so far, especially for my small business portfolio.  On Monday 5th July I hosted a Smart Business breakfast in Christchurch. It was a  cosy meeting (despite the frosty morning!) at the ‘Under the Red Verandah’ cafe  with a diverse bunch of people including representatives from the renewable energy sector, coffee  roasting  industry [...] read more
  July 26, 2010 12:08 pm - 9 Comments
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  The Volunteer Economy – Podcast - by frog

  
  
  
  Check out the latest podcast from Parliament. It’s a goodie. Green Party MP and serial volunteer Catherine Delahunty recounts one of the most entertaining and impressive experiences of a coordinated volunteer programme.  It took a village of volunteers to support a community court case against a mine in the Coromandel, sustained over several months. It’s [...] read more
  July 8, 2010 2:53 pm - 15 Comments
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  David’s Diary #3 – goodbye to Korea - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Back to Incheon airport this morning, waiting to board en route to Bangkok. I have seen some novel and interesting things in the last few days, as one would hope and expect when visiting a country for the first time. But a few minutes catching up on the news from home via dear old Granny [...] read more
  March 26, 2010 10:48 am - 4 Comments
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  David’s Diary #2 – bridging the divide - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Our second full day in Korea (and I do mean a full day!) has been illuminating in all sorts of ways, but the biggest buzz was entering North Korea (albeit briefly) without even having to produce a passport!  The opening session was a meeting over coffee with a professor of political studies from Chung-ang University, [...] read more
  March 24, 2010 12:14 pm - 1 Comment
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  Mortgagee sales in Auckland – graph - by frog

  
  
  
  Sayeth the NZ Herald: the number of mortgagee sales – where a borrower’s property is sold by the [bank] – reached the highest levels since records began They’ve only been keeping records since 1994 though At the end of the article there are some numbers, which I made a graph of Manukau (orange line) is [...] read more
  March 4, 2010 5:06 pm - 6 Comments
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  Wake up call for NZ exporters - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  If Kiwi businesses are to stay in the international retail game they need to get serious about adopting environmental and sustainable business practices. This is the message coming loud and clear from research revealed by major British retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S). M&S says environmental and social issues remain important to UK consumers. A survey [...] read more
  March 4, 2010 1:28 pm - 2 Comments
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  Fish industry uses net to catch hoki criticism - by frog

  
  
  
  To the surprise of conservationists, in 2001 the New Zealand hoki fishery was recognised as a sustainably managed fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council. Yet conservationists have continually raised concerns over how the fishery could possibly be sustainable when bycatch rates of NZ fur seals and seabirds are so high and the bottom trawling equipment [...] read more
  December 12, 2009 10:05 am - 9 Comments
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  The brand vs battery cows - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  This is how we present our butter to the world: “Only our cows are free to roam all day long. Anchor – the free range butter company”. And this is cubicle factory dairy production – the battery cow. Or this: Cognitive dissonance anyone? read more
  December 9, 2009 7:56 pm - 62 Comments
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  Herd homes vs cubicles like home vs prison - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Have you ever felt that after a long day inside a building you just have to get out and feel the sun and breathe some air? I guess not being able to do that is one  of the punishments the prison system imposes on offenders. But even they get an hour or so out in [...] read more
  December 9, 2009 3:35 pm - 11 Comments
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  Global concern at Nats’ plan to mine national parks - by frog

  
  
  
  Scrutiny of Government plans to mine our conservation lands is deepening internationally. And it’s got people hot on Facebook too. The Sunday Star Times ran a powerful feature on the weekend called “Picture imperfect”. It looks at international concern at New Zealand’s environmental performance, including National’s plan to mine conservation land: IT’S JUST a stock-take [...] read more
  December 7, 2009 8:30 pm - 10 Comments
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  Hugging trees: with a spade, trap and chainsaw - by frog

  
  
  
  A Wellington couple, entreprenuerial tree-huggers if you wish, criticise Fed Farmer’s head-in-the-sand attitude on climate change in the Nelson Mail today. They’ve invested in carbon farming a 47ha block of marginal land in Golden Bay. Jonathan Kennett and Bronwen Wall aren’t wringing their hands or seeking emissions subsidy handouts; they’re getting their hands dirty planting [...] read more
  December 2, 2009 1:16 pm - No Comments
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  Mokihinui – Brownlee’s burp - by frog

  
  
  
  So this week our Minister of Mining and Damming (aka Energy and Resources) let slip that the Mokihinui hydro-dam “would not go ahead”. Does he know something or was it just his ‘opinion’? Whatever the brain-burp was, he was ill-advised to say it but it’d be nice to think that there may be Moki fans in Government – perhaps they are closet readers of the 1400-fan facebook page! read more
  November 5, 2009 10:16 pm - 28 Comments
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  Smart hook – smart economics - by frog

  
  
  
  Fisher-turned-inventor Hans Jussiet explains the shield and dissolvable pin that covers baited-hooks as they are launched in this video from an ABC TVshow. Once the shielded hook sinks below the depth of seabirds and turtles, the pin dissolves and the shield is released. [Video included] read more
  November 5, 2009 9:20 pm - 5 Comments
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  Burning the Mona Lisa to cook dinner - by frog

  
  
  
  Well known conservative commentator Thomas Friedman contends that destroying our biodiversity to fuel unregulated economic growth is like burning the Mona Lisa to cook dinner. The issue of how we should treat natural capital in our economy resurfaced today in a new economic think-tank report. read more
  November 3, 2009 3:49 pm - 11 Comments