gerry brownlee Archive

  • Eugenie Sage

    National’s approach to local government is all over the place - by Eugenie Sage



    As successive Ministers of Local Government,  Nick Smith and David Carter loudly criticised councils for their debt level and  said councils needed to focus on “core services “ without defining what these were. Last year National made major changes to the Local Government Act so that the purpose of local government was no longer the [...] read more
    February 15, 2013 11:18 am - 5 Comments
  • Holly Walker

    Snapper example makes case for lobbying transparency - by Holly Walker



    New information on the National Government’s involvement in helping a company to get a contract in Auckland’s integrated ticketing shows why we need a transparent lobbying disclosure regime. read more
    November 5, 2012 10:56 am - 33 Comments
  • Eugenie Sage

    Christchurch’s assets could be next on Govt chopping block - by Eugenie Sage



    Two patsy questions by National MPs of Local Government Minister Nick Smith in Parliament this week (on increases in council debt and rates since the Local Government Act 2002) combined with Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee’s recent overwrought criticism of Mayor Parker and Christchurch City Council suggest that Ministers are softening up the public for [...] read more
    February 10, 2012 3:28 pm - 21 Comments
  • frog

    John Key’s new Cabinet announced - by frog



    Prime Minister John Key announced his new Cabinet this morning. The line-up is pretty predictable, but some of the portfolio allocations and rankings are interesting: The big winners are Steven Joyce and Hekia Parata, moving up 10 and 13 places respectively in the Cabinet ranking. Parata replaces Anne Tolley as Minister of Education. Paula Bennett’s [...] read more
    December 12, 2011 1:02 pm - 10 Comments
  • frog

    The external supervision of King Gerry - by frog



    Gerry Brownlee announced yesterday that the CERA independent review panel to provide oversight of Gerry Brownlee has been appointed by Gerry Brownlee. Gerry Brownlee has appointed former High Court Judge Sir John Hansen, former National Party Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley, National Party appointee to the Meridian Energy Board Anake Goodall, and National Party appointee [...] read more
    April 19, 2011 10:35 am - 31 Comments
  • frog

    Improving the latest Earthquake Recovery Bill - by frog



    We want to give Cantabrians all the help they need to rebuild their earthquake-ravaged city, but the Bill in front of Parliament today doesn’t do the job. There’s too much power vested in too few people for too long. We very cautiously supported the first recovery Bill last year while flagging serious constitutional concerns. But the Canterbury [...] read more
    April 12, 2011 3:57 pm - 11 Comments
  • Kennedy Graham

    Climate change, lignite, and Solid Energy: Searching for truth and reason - by Kennedy Graham



    Matters are coming to a head, on the lignite saga in Southland. As climate change intensifies around the world and not least here in New Zealand, our national responsibility to respond proportionate to our size and liability increases commensurately. The UN has prescribed a national emission reduction target of 25% to 40% off 1990 levels [...] read more
    February 18, 2011 4:52 pm - 37 Comments
  • frog

    A couple of troubling questions on the Hobbit Bill - by frog



    Who was telling the truth, John Key or Gerry Brownlee? Their stories differ. And how does this legislation clarify the law as to who are contractors and who are employees in the film industry, when it just seems to confuse an issue the Supreme Court had already made clear? read more
    October 30, 2010 8:05 pm - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Gerry Brownlee: The “employers’ representative” - by frog



    If an employer’s representative made a statement like this one from Gerry Brownlee, it would be in serious breach of prohibition of duress under the Employment Relations Act. But Gerry thinks he can say it anyway. Unless he’s actually acting as the “employer’s representative”, which maybe he is. Perhaps we need an Official Information Act request abut his communications to and from Warner Bros and associated corporate interests to determine that. read more
    October 23, 2010 7:04 am - 63 Comments
  • Keith Locke

    Hobbit fallout mustn’t affect workers’ rights - by Keith Locke



    The dispute over the Hobbit shouldn’t be used to attack workers’ rights. Earlier this morning Gerry Brownlee spoke about ‘clarifying’ employment laws. read more
    October 22, 2010 3:43 pm - 186 Comments
  • frog

    The Forestry NES: Robert Guyton thumbs up, Nick Smith rotten - by frog



    Congratulations to one of our regular commenters, Robert Guyton, on his election to Environment Southland last weekend. I really hope Robert can make a difference in stopping the “Double Dipton” plan to double Southland’s dairy herd numbers, and stopping Gerry Brownlee’s Lignitemare. I was pondering a post on Nick Smith’s proposed National Environment Standard on forestry. read more
    October 12, 2010 7:03 pm - 13 Comments
  • frog

    Key Government hides from the truth about oil - by frog



    Make your submission on the draft Energy Strategy by 5pm on 2 September read more
    August 29, 2010 6:47 am - 78 Comments
  • frog

    Have your say on the draft Energy Strategy (or lack of one) - by frog



    It is ironic that there is so little to criticise inside Gerry Brownlee’s draft Energy Strategy, but that’s because there is almost nothing in it! Fortunately there is a Green Party submission guide ready and waiting to help you have your say. read more
    August 26, 2010 1:37 pm - 18 Comments
  • Kennedy Graham

    Phased milestones vs ‘Nanny State’: Exchanging views with Mr Brownlee - by Kennedy Graham



    I questioned Gerry Brownlee in the House about his recent draft Energy Strategy. The ideological blinkers are clearly preventing us from moving purposefully towards a low-carbon economy. read more
    August 5, 2010 10:02 am - 25 Comments
  • Kennedy Graham

    Dialogue with he of closed ears: Thanking Mr Brownlee for his insights - by Kennedy Graham



    I had occasion today to speak in the Budget Debate. What an inspiring eye-opener. The Budget was, of course, introduced by Finance Minister, Bill English on 20 May. The debate has spluttered along, on and off to reflect the changing weekly priorities of the Government in Parliament. The final stage is this week. read more
    July 28, 2010 3:31 pm - 19 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    We Love It – We Protected It! - by Catherine Delahunty



    We Love It – We Protected It! Today the Green Party is preparing to celebrate with hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who stood up against the mining of Schedule Four conservation land. The Government has acknowledged the more than 44,000 signatures on a Green Party petition, the 40,000 people who made submissions and the [...] read more
    July 20, 2010 12:03 pm - 44 Comments
  • frog

    Oil spill deja vu - by frog



    Rachel Maddow has done a superlative job of pointing out the eerie deja vu that is this year’s Gulf of Mexico and Alaskan oil spills. read more
    July 15, 2010 2:25 pm - 11 Comments
  • frog

    Gerry’s biofuel subsidy blunders - by frog



    I was aghast when Minister Brownlee stormed into office in 2008, declaring that a cost free, modest biofuel sales obligation was poor economics and bad for the market, and that it must be repealed and replaced with a subsidy. read more
    July 6, 2010 11:52 am - 12 Comments
  • frog

    Big Gerry treads lightly on Solid Energy privatisation plans - by frog



    Earlier today, Solid Energy Chair John Palmer advocated, in a presentation before the start of the NZX Annual Meeting in Wellington, the partial privatisation of Solid Energy. We want a Yes or a No, Gerry, not your equivocation! read more
    June 17, 2010 7:15 pm - 10 Comments
  • frog

    Mining Schedule 4 is economically negligent - by frog



    That’s a tough word, but to my mind, selling off our clean, green image for only $36 per voter (one off price!) can only be described as negligent. read more
    May 31, 2010 3:27 pm - 3 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Gerry Brownlee fails as travelling salesman for mining industry - by Catherine Delahunty



    About one hundred Coromandel people came out in the pouring rain yesterday to tell Gerry Brownlee what they thought of his plans to undermine Schedule 4 areas of the conservation estate. read more
    May 13, 2010 9:24 am - 14 Comments
  • frog

    Sexy coal with Robyn and Lucy - by frog



    It is just too good to let this one go by… Greenpeace have made a stunning little vignette featuring Lucy Lawless and Robyn Malcolm, lampooning Gerry Brownlee’s sexy coal video. read more
    April 26, 2010 5:35 pm - 4 Comments
  • frog

    Best Earth Day present ever - by frog



    Well it was about time for a bit of good news on the environmental front wasn’t it? Today Metiria’s Bill to make it harder to mine in Schedule 4 land was drawn from the ballot, just in time for Earth Day and our series of “Love it, don’t mine it” events around the country. The [...] read more
    April 22, 2010 2:57 pm - 9 Comments
  • David Clendon

    Minister leaves door open for truly smart meters - by David Clendon



    Electricity consumers around the country are having smart meters installed that aren’t really smart, and then have to pay for them through their electricity bill, without getting any of the benefits. read more
    April 22, 2010 10:41 am - 14 Comments
  • frog

    Send ’em all down pit, Paula - by frog



    Let’s hope Gerry Brownlee and Paula Bennett don’t pick up on this policy initiative from Australian Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. read more
    April 22, 2010 9:27 am - 8 Comments
  • frog

    A postcard on Eden Park - by frog



    Gerry Brownlee likens the Government’s Schedule 4 mining proposals to “a postcard on Eden Park”. Coromandel Watchdog sees it somewhat differently, and has produced this scale image to help us all see it their way: read more
    March 30, 2010 1:26 pm - 19 Comments
  • frog

    Schedule 4 mining still on the table - by frog



    Just as we predicted back in August, the National Party is going to break a hard won consensus around Schedule 4 and punch holes in the most precious parts of our conservation estate. Kiwis have already made it pretty clear that they don’t want this, but we will have to make our voices heard over [...] read more
    March 22, 2010 4:56 pm - 55 Comments
  • frog

    Nats undermining open government - by frog



    The National-led Government is attempting to avoid public scrutiny of Bills by making Regulatory Impact Statements almost as hard to find as Phil Heatley’s and Gerry Brownlee’s Ministerial credit card receipts. A very poor look as far as open government is concerned. read more
    February 26, 2010 6:49 pm - 12 Comments
  • frog

    Sexy coal on sexy oil - by frog



    Isn’t Gerry Brownlee such a wonderfully clever Minister of Energy and Resources to be able to increase our oil production a thousandfold? read more
    February 12, 2010 2:40 pm - 24 Comments
  • frog

    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
  • frog

    Mining Milford Sound? - by frog



    “Will he rule out of the review of Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act any consideration of mining potential in Milford Sound; if not, why not?” National Parks, openness, ‘hysteria’ and cartoons. read more
    October 8, 2009 10:36 am - 12 Comments
  • frog

    Undermining our most generous gifts - by frog



    On 23 September 1887 – 122 years ago yesterday – Te Heuheu Tukino of Tuwharetoa gifted the mountains of Tongariro, Ngaruhoe and Ruapehu to the people of Aotearoa…. This anniversary was sullied by the fact that the Crown is now considering the Park’s mining potential. read more
    September 24, 2009 2:30 pm - 12 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Gerry The Dinosaur - by Catherine Delahunty



    Once upon a time there was a large hungry dinosaur called Gerry who loved eating rocks more than anything else.   He lived near a beautiful forest but he had never been allowed to enter and eat the rocks and pull out the trees. He had been told he couldn’t tramp through the clear shining rivers [...] read more
    September 2, 2009 10:44 am - 91 Comments
  • Jeanette Fitzsimons

    Fiddling the electricity market, while consumers burn - by Jeanette Fitzsimons



    Once again the government is fiddling with the electricity market to try to make it do two contradictory things. Once again it will fail. The Minister of Energy is gradually drip feeding results of the Electricity Market Review,  which is to be considered by Cabinet this morning. It seems it will abolish the Electricity Commission, [...] read more
    August 10, 2009 11:49 am - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Driving efficiency - by frog



    The NACT government has justified much of its agenda with the catch cry ‘streamlining and efficiency.’ It’s the falsehood under cover of which they plan to gut environmental laws through changes to the RMA, for example.  And its part of the rationale they gave for bringing the ETS to a grinding halt. But in what [...] read more
    May 19, 2009 5:05 pm - 11 Comments
  • frog

    Air Freshener: A dose of reality - by frog



    The This Is Reality campaign has published their latest “Clean Coal” advertisement. It was directed by Academy-award winners Joel and Ethan Coen and it’s pretty funny. There is no such thing as clean coal, Gerry. read more
    February 27, 2009 9:13 am - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Energy Minister’s recipe for economic disaster - by frog



    The government’s call to scrap the New Zealand Energy Strategy is yet another instance of the environment being sacrificed on the altar of exponential growth, and is a recipe for economic disaster. However, there may be a tiny silver lining. At least this time the Energy Minister has not hidden behind the farce of “balance” [...] read more
    February 26, 2009 4:14 pm - 16 Comments
  • frog

    Brownlee’s EFA Bungle Says It All - by frog



    There’s something symbolic about Gerry Brownlee’s procedural mistakes holding up the EFA repeal reading last week. There was a bungled urgency motion followed by a fumbled adjournment motion and a reversal by the Speaker. The end result is that, after an objection by the Greens, the EFA’s second reading was delayed until today. Where to [...] read more
    February 17, 2009 7:37 am - 37 Comments
  • frog

    Coalergy: Smudge - by frog



    I suppose this could just as well star Gerry Brownlee, the way he goes on about sexy coal and carbon capture and storage…. read more
    February 9, 2009 3:34 pm - 1 Comment
  • frog

    Conservatives call for effective ban on thermal generation without CCS - by frog



    The debate in the UK has been slowly heating up since the middle of last year, when a right-wing think tank called on the Labour government to impose gradually reducing emissions standards for all power plants. The effect would have been a ban on new coal plants without Carbon Capture and Storage, (CCS), while allowing [...] read more
    January 30, 2009 10:52 am - 3 Comments
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