rodney hide Archive

  • Metiria Turei

    Safe mothers, safe children - by Metiria Turei



    Rodney Hide’s latest piece in the NZ Herald exposes a callous and dangerous attitude. He needs to ask himself whether he really wants solutions to reduce child death or whether he just wants to pontificate while more women and more children suffer. Every death of a child at the hands of parent is a deep [...] read more
    November 26, 2012 5:35 pm - 124 Comments
  • frog

    Industrial disputes explained… - by frog



    This one goes out to all the workers in Oceania rest homes, AFFCO meat works across the country, and at the Ports of Auckland where the legacy of Rodney Hide’s Superpoopercity  is now doing you over: Fight the good fight for decent wages and conditions. The Green Party will back you all the way. read more
    March 16, 2012 7:33 pm - 5 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    No place for TABOR in New Zealand - by Russel Norman



    The Government has introduced a TABOR Bill to Parliament.  TABOR is an acronym for “Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights”.  But rather than have anything to do with a real Bill of Rights, TABOR is actually a wacky libertarian measure designed to shrink the state and inhibit its ability to protect the vulnerable or respond adequately to [...] read more
    August 15, 2011 4:30 pm - 10 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Saints or support workers? Rodney Hide on special education - by Catherine Delahunty



    In the middle of his other troubles, Associate Education Minister Rodney Hide spoke at our Select Committee on Wednesday about the Review of Special Education. It was apparent that his 6 month journey with this portfolio has included some transformative moments, as documented in TVNZ’s Make the Politician Work. He has been open about the [...] read more
    May 5, 2011 5:21 pm - 2 Comments
  • frog

    Found on floor outside Rodney Hide’s office - by frog



    It’s amazing the things that turn up when I’m hopping around Parliament.  Look what I found a few hours ago on a rare visit to the Act Party offices: read more
    April 1, 2011 12:01 am - 12 Comments
  • David Clendon

    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
  • frog

    Parliamentary expenses: Here are ours, where are the rest? - by frog



    The last few days have resulted in a renewed focus on Parliamentary expenses. In the interests of transparency and democracy, the Greens are fronting their own expenses, despite changes in rules and proposed rules that may help MPs to hide taxpayer-funded expenses. Let’s see which other parties front with theirs! read more
    November 2, 2010 6:47 pm - 24 Comments
  • Sue Kedgley

    Wellington local body cliff-hanger - by Sue Kedgley



    I could hardly believe it, when the Returning Officer read out the figures—Celia Wade Brown was only 40 votes behind incumbent Mayor Kerry Prendergast! Kerry looked mortified, Celia looked stunned, and the crowd that had gathered in the Wellington Council foyer looked amazed—because there had been no hint, in the media, that the election was [...] read more
    October 11, 2010 4:31 pm - 22 Comments
  • frog

    Hide nailing down the rats - by frog



    Speaking to TV ONE’s Q and A show today, Rodney Hide revealed that the whole Act caucus and some of the senior party management knew about David Garrett’s fraudulently obtained passport. I’ve avoided commenting on the ongoing train wreck [mixed metaphor corrected] slowly sinking ship that is the ACT Party until now.  They are doing [...] read more
    September 19, 2010 5:00 pm - 10 Comments
  • David Clendon

    Academic angle on Super City changes - by David Clendon



    Pro-Vice Chancellor of AUT University, and Professor of Public Policy with the University’s Institute of Public Policy. Professor Ian Shirley has chipped in his two cents about the Auckland Super City changes. “local government in Auckland will be replaced with ‘a corporate structure where the major beneficiaries will be the exclusive brethren of big business, [...] read more
    August 18, 2010 1:06 pm - 2 Comments
  • frog

    CTU spot on with submission - by frog



    Submissions to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee about the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill closed last week. Out of the 427 submissions, one of the most interesting and well done was put forward by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. The submission outlines the problems with defining core services, the emphasis on investing and undertaking [...] read more
    July 9, 2010 10:51 am - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Thousands protest against the ECan coup - by frog



    It’s great to see the people of Canterbury fighting back in their thousands, and to see Green MPs Russel Norman and Kennedy Graham supporting them, to return to democratic regional governance. read more
    June 13, 2010 7:47 pm - 9 Comments
  • frog

    ECan Act “constitutionally repugnant” - by frog



    … constitutionally repugnant … contains elements of subterfuge … a constitutional affront … simply unacceptable … failed the legal requirement that the law should be general and forward-looking, not retrospective … denied all the equal protection of the law … either gratuitous or disingenuous … does nothing to promote respect for the law … a disproportionate response to the issues. Pretty strong words from a Professor of Law read more
    May 20, 2010 9:52 am - 16 Comments
  • Sue Kedgley

    Water and democracy - by Sue Kedgley



    Every New Zealander should be worried about Rodney Hide’s latest bill on local government — which will allow our water supplies [DOC] to be controlled and managed by private companies for 35 years, and will force Councils to focus only on ill-defined ‘core business’ [DOC] (which excludes, amongst other things, the environment).’ Multinational corporations are [...] read more
    May 5, 2010 6:40 pm - 18 Comments
  • frog

    Cabinet celebrates the ECan coup - by frog



    A picture is worth a thousand words! If you are in or near Christchurch tomorrow Friday 30 April, come and join the protests against this abrogation of democracy: 5:30 pm @ ECan office 58 Kilmore St, moving to the Jenny Shipley gloat-fest lecture at the Copthorne Hotel, corner Durham and Kilmore Streets an hour or so later. read more
    April 29, 2010 7:57 pm - 41 Comments
  • frog

    A hard ACT to follow - by frog



    It seems the infighting within the ACT Party is not confined just to Rodney Hide, Heather Roy, Roger Douglas and the Parliamentary wing. Following ACT on Campus President Rick Giles’ profound argument in denial of human induced climate change on TV3’s Sunrise earlier this week: I think my argument is so powerful, it’s not necessary to talk about it read more
    April 3, 2010 6:28 am - 18 Comments
  • frog

    Rodney-mandering the super city - by frog



    Gerrymander is an ugly, ugly word. So I won’t use it. Instead I’ve made a beautiful table for you to look at. What it shows is the names and the degree of representation each of the 13 new wards (with 20 councillors between them) created by the Local Government Commission for the Auckland Super City elections will have. read more
    March 31, 2010 9:51 am - 2 Comments
  • David Clendon

    Taking a Hiding - by David Clendon



    You know your plans are not being well received when one of the major players in the sector speaks out against them. Mr Hide has already faced widespread public opposition to his plans for the Auckland Super City, as well as from other politicians, the current Auckland councils and now the President of Local Government [...] read more
    March 15, 2010 3:34 pm - 23 Comments
  • frog

    A putrid stench in the Canterbury environment - by frog



    It looks like Canterbury is in for a taste of the “Auckland treatment” – local democracy gutted and decision-making handed over to unelected Ministerial appointees. read more
    March 8, 2010 3:01 pm - 24 Comments
  • Sue Kedgley

    Wellingtonians won’t fall for Dunne’s Super city plans - by Sue Kedgley



    Wellingtonians are far too intelligent to fall for Peter Dunne’s ‘we must follow Auckland and become a super-city’ line. read more
    February 12, 2010 3:26 pm - 13 Comments
  • David Clendon

    Auckland Supercity – Rogernomics Round 2 - by David Clendon



    The Super (Monster?) City meetings we are hosting along with Labour are well under way, and we are getting good numbers attending.  What is coming through loudly and clearly is that people are angry and frustrated at the blatant attack on democracy and the underlying agenda of ‘Rogernomics Round 2’. Waiheke last Thursday attracted 40-odd [...] read more
    February 4, 2010 2:19 pm - 1 Comment
  • frog

    A friendly reminder to Aucklanders – your democracy is under threat - by frog



    Just before the summer break, the Government pushed Rodney Hide’s Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill through its First reading and sent it to Select Committee. I blogged about it at the time, but many frogblog readers may have missed it in the pre-Christmas rush.  So here’s a friendly reminder – submissions close on 12 [...] read more
    January 22, 2010 6:14 pm - 10 Comments
  • frog

    Submitting in your summer holiday - by frog



    As I predicted last week, the Government has allowed only a very short time for submissions on the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill – submissions close on 12 February 2010. This is a truly appalling Bill – it’s packed full of measures that undermine local democracy and promote the privatisation of Auckland’s assets. read more
    December 20, 2009 3:55 pm - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Rampant Rodney rogers Auckland - by frog



    Rodney Hide’s third supercity Bill, the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill, reveals a hardcore anti-democratic agenda for privatisation. read more
    December 15, 2009 8:41 am - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Gutting ACC – Employer disunity over ACC privatisation - by frog



    Conflicting statements from business lobbyists reveal that there is no consensus amongst New Zealand business about the privatisation of ACC. Business New Zealand has issued a statement supporting foreign-owned insurance companies being able to compete with ACC in workplace accident compensation. They are at loggerheads with the Employers and Manufacturers Association, who oppose ACC privatisation. read more
    October 22, 2009 7:22 pm - 7 Comments
  • frog

    Govt has Biz Roundtable on speed dial for advice - by frog



    During the Clark-Cullen years there was at least an attempt when setting up advisory boards and review panels to get a range of voices – not that the Clark-Cullen administrations would then necessarily utilise the advice given. In 2000 for example the Labour-Alliance Government picked Rob McLeod – then just a member of the Business [...] read more
    August 24, 2009 5:08 pm - 3 Comments
  • frog

    More Circular Uncertainty from National - by frog



    Following the circular uncertainty created by John Key and his National government regarding the Emissions Trading Scheme, we now have another round of circular uncertainty, this time created by officialdom, no doubt because there is no clear leadership from the top. To start with, we have the utterly confused and ambiguous signals to business regarding [...] read more
    December 21, 2008 12:19 pm - 82 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Hide against the people going to court - by Russel Norman



    Rodney Hide on Morning Report this morning has nailed his colours to the mast . He has come out for restricting the rights of ordinary citizens to appeal decisions of consent panels. Here’s what he said: Allowing just any Tom Dick and Harry to appeal something [to the environment court] is a recipe for endless [...] read more
    December 11, 2008 10:06 am - 105 Comments
  • frog

    George Monbiot gives Yvo de Boer a serve - by frog



    In a new Guardian video series entitled Monbiot meets…, George gives the United Nations chief climate change negotiator Yvo de Boer a serve, and asks if the Kyoto protocol is too little too late for the planet. This version of the video is from eco-tube.com. We all know now that a carbon tax would have [...] read more
    December 9, 2008 11:34 am - 62 Comments
  • frog

    Denial is no longer an acceptable response - by frog



    Greenpeace ironically notes that New Zealanders should be seriously alarmed at the prospect of the National-led government damaging the country’s relationship with the United States. “New Zealand is at serious risk of becoming an international Pariah over climate, and jeopardising its international standing and trade relations. The last thing we want is to become the [...] read more
    November 19, 2008 12:10 pm - 51 Comments
  • frog

    Economics and climate science are not Hide’s strong suits - by frog



    Brian Rudman today pins down the real danger the Rodney Hide’s climate denialism represents to New Zealand: The British Government Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, published in March, was blunt. “The scientific evidence is now overwhelming; climate change is a serious global threat, and it demands an urgent global response. Hundreds of [...] read more
    November 19, 2008 12:09 pm - 14 Comments
  • frog

    The Emissions Trading Scheme hits the backburner - by frog



    There is some good commentary about the Emissions Trading Scheme going on hold at Pundit: Have we wasted the whole last decade debating climate change policy, if we need to go back and start from scratch with a select committee review of ETS? No party was happy with the scheme that was finally passed in [...] read more
    November 18, 2008 3:50 pm - 34 Comments
  • frog

    Act’s ally - by frog



    Well one sector of society had to draw the short straw and get an Act Minister in charge of their area of interest, and this time it was local governments.  But it seems that one mayor, the one in the Rodney District, is looking forward to working with Rodney Hide. “I am sure the new [...] read more
    November 18, 2008 3:13 pm - 13 Comments
  • frog

    Key’s potential coalition dilemma - by frog



    By the looks of the polls John Key might be talking to Rodney Hide about the environment next week. That’s certainly how Hide is positioning himself in the lead up to tomorrow’s vote. John, you gotta get the country out of this Emissions Trading Scam. Hide and his party are the only remaining confirmed climate [...] read more
    November 7, 2008 1:22 pm - 35 Comments
  • frog

    Bush and Howard melt away to leave Rodney and John increasingly lonely on their iceberg - by frog



    Talking of mashups… read more
    November 6, 2008 12:18 pm - 30 Comments
  • frog

    Not even Act supporters like Rodney’s yellow hide - by frog



    Ha ha. Inquiries by The Dominion Post, the Electoral Commission revealed yesterday that the man who complained about Mr Hide’s jacket was an ACT supporter – 21-year-old Canterbury Commerce student Andy Moore. No one cares about Act so they have to complain about themselves. read more
    November 5, 2008 10:50 am - 12 Comments
  • frog

    A few quotes - by frog



    John Ansell here on Frogblog referring to Jeanette’s ranking as one of NZ’s hottest politicians: ‘Not hot, but maybe globally warm.’ Nine year old Aotea Parata who stars with Aila Morgan-Guthrie on the Green Party billboard of the tyre swing talking about whether he’ll be voting Maori Party or Green Party (or something different):  ’Just [...] read more
    November 3, 2008 10:07 am - 24 Comments
  • frog

    Russel and Rodney debate the economy - by frog



    TV3′s ASB Business show this morning featured a brawling debate between Russel and Rodney Hide this morning which includes Hide’s extraordinary proposal to pull New Zealand out of it’s international Kyoto commitments and, as Russel described it, have New Zealand tagged as a global climate criminal.  As Russel mentions during the debate the two biggest [...] read more
    October 22, 2008 11:42 am - 29 Comments
  • frog

    The politics of architecture - by frog



    The September-October issue of the ArchitectureNZ magazine asks each political party leader to nominate a building which they admire or is significant to them.  And what it found was: The Left’s traditional, the Right’s radical, the Greens are right–on, the Maori look in and the Centre looks back. Russel chose the Ataturk Memorial, which stands [...] read more
    October 8, 2008 10:47 am - 9 Comments
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