Russel Norman Archive

  • Russel Norman

    MPS – structural problems remain



    We had the Reserve Bank Governor in front of Finance and Expenditure Committee today about his Monetary Policy Statement. The MPS is very much a steady as she goes document. But if you look more closely it’s not so pretty. For example it predicts the current account deficit returning to more than 7.2% by 2013 (from 1.8% in 2010). [...] read more
    March 11, 2010 2:34 pm - 37 Comments
  • frog

    A putrid stench in the Canterbury environment



    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
  • frog

    Water battles in the Manawatu



    Yesterday I accompanied Russel to the Horizons Regional Council hearings on the water quality section of their proposed One Plan . Horizons, who manage natural resources in the Manawatu and Whanganui region, have proposed a really innovative way of dealing with complex issues around water, land use, heritage, biodiversity, coasts, and [...] read more
    March 4, 2010 5:28 pm - 13 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    No boat ride for me and John



    My Dirty Rivers Rafting Tour is going so well that I invited the PM to join me. Since the launch on the Hutt River in late January, I have visited the Waihou in Waikato and the Taumarere in Northland, attracting some good local interest and starting some great conversations with locals about the state of their [...] read more
    February 16, 2010 5:09 pm - 17 Comments
  • frog

    Tax working group supports universal child benefit



    Russel Norman is right to criticise the TWG for its main recommendation of aligning top personal tax rates with a corporate tax rate of 30% as creating a chasm of social inequality between the richest and poorest in New Zealand and for its shyness on taxing capital gain. But the TWG’s suggestion of reintroducing a universal child benefit deserves serious consideration. read more
    January 21, 2010 10:27 pm - 73 Comments
  • frog

    Why are Kiwis allowed to work for whalers?



    The government’s response to the sinking of the Ady Gil, just the latest chapter in the seemingly never ending saga of Japanese south seas whaling, has been the usual waffle. Minister McCully urges restraint, but says New Zealand’s influence is too small to do more. This is disappointing to say the least, given the strong stance [...] read more
    January 9, 2010 10:20 pm - 59 Comments
  • frog

    Burning the Mona Lisa to cook dinner



    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
  • frog

    Economic debate gets Green voice



    TVNZ7’s much hyped economic debate (you’ve probably seen the adds by now) will have a Green voice.  Following TVNZ’s Guyon Espiner interviewing Finance Minister Bill English Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman will critique National’s first year in Government along with Roger Douglas (ACT) and David Cunliffe (Labour).  TVZN7’s economic debate screens tonight on TVNZ7 at [...] read more
    November 3, 2009 9:52 am - 16 Comments
  • frog

    Think our native forests were safe? Think again.



    “Agricultural intensification over the past 10 years has led to the highest rate of native vegetation loss since European colonisation.” Landcare Research Annual Report read more
    November 2, 2009 11:29 am - 18 Comments
  • frog

    Green Oral Question for today



    In Parliament today, the Green Party’s Questions for Oral Answer (number 3) is from Russel Norman to the Minister of Finance, Bill English: Does he stand by his statement that “water assets will not be privatised as a result of the restructuring” of local government; and if so, how does he reconcile it with Cabinet’s decision [...] read more
    October 29, 2009 11:42 am - 30 Comments
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