Kate Wilkinson Archive

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  A stingy and evidence-averse decision on the minimum wage - by Denise Roche

  
  
  
  As I predicted in my blog post last week, John Key’s Government has announced today what amounts to a nil increase in the minimum wage – a paltry increase of 50c an hour. The nominal increase is 3.8% – but at the same time the Consumer Price Index increased 4.6% in the year to September 2011 [...] read more
  February 8, 2012 5:33 pm - 15 Comments
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  Mojo And Steffan lead Green response to Food Bill - by Mojo Mathers

  
  
  
  In the new Parliament I will be stepping into the size 12 gumboots of Sue Kedgley and working hard on the food portfolio. In the last Parliament Sue Kedgley met with the Minister of Food Safety Kate Wilkinson and sought to exempt small growers, people who sell food directly to consumers, and those who barter [...] read more
  December 21, 2011 11:11 am - 53 Comments
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  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
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  Long overdue progress made on mine safety - by frog

  
  
  
  For the last month New Zealand has been reduced to just one inspector of mines person after Kevin Poynter left for Australia. After questioning from Kevin Hague yesterday it turns out there a replacement has been found. read more
  August 19, 2011 2:25 pm - 2 Comments
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  An end to Seed Exchanges? - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  I have had many queries about the Food Bill, with some suggesting it is a ghastly plot to make seed saving and seed exchange programmes illegal, and even activities such as the Willing Workers on Organic Farm systems (WWOOFing). These concerns, unfortunately, were never raised during the submission stage of the bill, when they can [...] read more
  August 5, 2011 12:43 pm - 21 Comments
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  Workers’ Memorial Day - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  Workplaces are safer when workers and their unions feel confident to address safety issues, and this has not been helped by the National government’s industrial legislation. read more
  April 28, 2011 3:26 pm - 2 Comments
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  Something stinks here, and it’s not just Lake Ellesmere - by frog

  
  
  
  In March last year, as part of his Dirty Rivers Tour, Russel Norman visited his first dirty lake – Lake Ellesmere, or Te Waihora. He found signs by the boatramp that said not to touch the water, as it’s a health hazard due to toxic algae. The Department of Conservation, along with Ngāi Tahu and [...] read more
  January 24, 2011 1:45 pm - 9 Comments
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  Kate Wilkinson’s sick joke - by frog

  
  
  
  The National Party expects that people drag themselves and/or their kids off to the doctor, even when they might be puking or sneezing all over the place but have no need for medical attention, just to satisfy a bad employer’s unreasonable suspicion that the illness may not be genuine. read more
  September 18, 2010 5:57 pm - 18 Comments
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  John Key gives me a dose of the bum-squirts - by frog

  
  
  
  Tummy bugs that cause diarrhoea and vomiting are particularly unpleasant illnesses. So is flu. Their only redeeming feature – unless you have an underlying chronic disease, or have contracted a serious but rare acute illness like salmonella or meningitis that can masquerade as a minor illness for a short while – is that your body’s [...] read more
  July 20, 2010 9:27 pm - 94 Comments
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  National reveals its anti-worker colours - by frog

  
  
  
  John Key’s Government has won a lot of plaudits for being “Labour-lite”, and that has probably helped sustain its consistently high opinion poll ratings. But today the Government revealed its true colours. No more “Labour-lite” – this National-led government has now revealed itself as hard right wing and anti-worker. read more
  July 15, 2010 7:41 pm - 61 Comments
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  Say “No” to further erosion of employment rights - by frog

  
  
  
  Brace yourselves for the next attack on employment rights by the National-led Government. A discussion document released by Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson doesn’t look pretty for workers. read more
  March 2, 2010 5:16 pm - 17 Comments
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  Members’ Bills – the good, the bad, and the ugly - by frog

  
  
  
  There were three Members’ Bills drawn from the ballot today. The good Bill is Green MP David Clendon’s Smart Meters (Consumer Choice) Bill.  It gives effect to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s recommendations to ensure all electricity meters have functionality that enables them to automatically control loads and to talk to smart appliances. It [...] read more
  February 23, 2010 3:17 pm - 28 Comments
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  Why just youth, Kate? - by frog

  
  
  
  Roger Douglas and Kate Wilkinson speculated in Parliament yesterday on the reintroduction of youth rates. Following their reasoning, there would also be a discriminatory lower rate of minimum wage for Māori, and for New Zealanders of Pacific, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African ethnicity. There’s a term for that, and it’s not a nice one. read more
  February 11, 2010 3:11 pm - 68 Comments
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  A mean and silly decision on the minimum wage - by frog

  
  
  
  The Government, in raising the minimum wage by a paltry 25 cents an hour, seems hell-bent on maintaining massive state subsidisation of low wages. Isn’t it time employers, who profit from the work done, contribute a greater share? read more
  January 28, 2010 8:03 am - 72 Comments
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  Take a break, Kate - by frog

  
  
  
  The Minister of Labour needs to take a break. But instead, she blunders on with a rushed and poorly considered Bill to take away employees’ breaks. This is legislation at its worst – both in process and in substance. read more
  October 28, 2009 3:49 pm - 4 Comments
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  Strange saga unfolds around the Minister of Labour - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  Earlier this week the Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson gave a truly bizarre reason for not meeting with the executive of the NDU (National Distribution Union): Telecom workers were on strike. Members of the NDU executive have been trying unsuccessfully to meet with the Minister for some time. The reason given for the cancellation of [...] read more
  August 27, 2009 12:54 pm - 25 Comments