Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: No Red Wedding

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  • Russell Brown,

    Oh, and notwithstanding a bitchy tweet from Chris Finlayson (for goodness sake, Minister, do us all a favour and go and do some work), I'm please to see the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio given continued prominence. Basically, Grant Robertson and his former Associate Jacinda Ardern have swapped places. I think that's a branding portfolio for Labour.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    No Red Wedding

    The signal to start the killing was The Internationale, but the band was confused and played The National instead.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    It would be better if Clare gets another shot at the IT sector. I rather liked her enthusiasm. I can see Kris Faafoi has a associate role there but so does she along with Open Government.

    Civil Defence and Emergency Management
    Open Government
    Associate Regional Development
    Associate ICT
    Associate Economic Development (Procurement)

    Andrew Little for Labour seems like an obvious choice. Justice less obvious.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jason Kemp,

    It would be better if Clare gets another shot at the IT sector. I rather liked her enthusiasm.

    Bags of enthusiasm, but not the credibility in the portfolio to match.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    I note Judith Collins' childish use of "Cunners", a trait shared with the rightwing blog sewer and also IIRC Gower and Garner.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • bob daktari,

    pleased to see Ardern take arts as well.. and most changes seem generally positive - now for them to pull as a team, for the betterment of the nation not selves

    NRT's take, is interesting, as it possibly explains some areas of potential weakness http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/a-signal-to-greens.html

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle MacDonald,

    Does Jacinda's change represent a promotion or just a shuffle? I thought she was doing a great job of Social Development, and making Paula sound generally ill-informed.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 82 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    It's a pity Science is no longer on the front bench. Can't say I'm a huge fan of calling science "innovation" and burying it in MBIE, but given the business focus of MBIE then Megan Woods is probably an appropriate choice.

    I know nothing about Moana Mackey the spokesperson for science and she may get a bigger role in the next govt but it feels very much like Labour (still) doesn't believe science is of any value to society.

    I know IT is a big focus of folks here but IT only exists because scientists created it for our own needs.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to bob daktari,

    NRT’s take, is interesting, as it possibly explains some areas of potential weaknes

    Yeah, he tweeted to that effect earlier. He may well be right.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I know nothing about Moana Mackey the spokesperson for scienc

    She definitely has science cred:

    Moana left the coast to study at Victoria University in 1993 and graduated in 1997 with BSc(Hons) with first class honours in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    She definitely has science cred:

    Yup she was a scientist before she moved into politics so that's a plus.

    Oddly given some of the policy coming out of the The Greens I wouldn't be too upset to see Science go to a Green MP ....except of course for the couple of odd areas where they seem to utterly abandon science for ideology :(. Sadly those few areas are enough to prevent me supporting them.

    But on the whole much of The Green policy is based in science which suggests they have some folks who actually understand and could represent Science as a portfolio ... as opposed to National and Labour who have spent the last few decades treating science as some kind of badly performing manufacturing company.

    And yes it hurts my head to think that The Greens could better represent Science in/for NZ than any other Party.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    Seems a sensible compromise, culling the ABCs would have lost Labour a lot of expertise even if there is a need for more pruning before the next election

    Jacinda Ardern just has not been getting much traction, so a sideways move with a chance to shine is good and Louisa Wall now has get something that get her teeth into

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to bob daktari,

    NRT’s take, is interesting,

    Health, Conservation and Transport.

    Transport is a slam dunk given the expertise The Greens can bring to bear ... actually having someone who knows what the hell they are talking about lead a portfolio!

    Conservation is also an obvious match for The Greens.

    But Health? Bearing in mind The Greens still publically believe in fake medicines, it would be a huge call to give one of the biggest and most important (to voters) portfolios to a party that has ... er ... interesting veiws on what counts as health care.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    But Hague's fine on that stuff. He ran a DHB after all.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • John Morrison,

    As a past Dunedinite, I'm not sorry to see Curran go from ICT. Too much shooting from the lip before brain engagement. Rest of the shadow cabinet looks good although I would like to see Louisa Wall given a major portfolio

    Cromwell • Since Nov 2006 • 85 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    But Hague’s fine on that stuff.

    Yeah, I find most of what he says to be reasonable and sensible. It's the policy that I'd like to see change to match much of their other science and evidence based policy.

    And I suspect I'm not alone in wanting to see them push stronger into being the party based firmly is the real rather than the ideaology. If they did that I think they'd be a really great compliment to Labour.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Thing is, Green policy isn’t policy at all. It’s a religious recitation of belief*. It’s what ends up in the coalition agreement that matters, and that stuff’s way less kooky.

    (And I say that as someone who is broadly a fan of Green kookery.)

    * in the sense that it's basically a formal statement of position without any real relation to action, not implying it's religiously based!

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    I think he's done pretty much what he said he was going to do - appointed people based on merit and skill rather than who they eat their playlunch with.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    and Louisa Wall now has get something that get her teeth into

    And well deserved, too. I don’t think it’s just a matter of her being in the Cunliffe camp.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Raffe Smith,

    Phil Twyford, being given Housing, Auckland Issues, and Associate Environment (Cities), leads me to wonder that his role will effectively be Spokeperson for Urban Affairs and Land Use in all but name. Which I think should be a really important role, given the amount of public spending in the area, sub-standard housing stock, and misguided attention to rural motorways rather than public transport, walking, and cycling - things which make our cities nice place to be in.

    Hopefully this also recognises that cities are part of the environment, and need to be tended to and cultivated in their own manner.

    Mount Albert. • Since Nov 2006 • 40 posts Report Reply

  • Euan Mason,

    It's bizarre to separate innovation, research and development from science. Does anyone know what the rationale is?

    Canterbury • Since Jul 2008 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah, in reply to Euan Mason,

    I think it's okay. One set of portfolios has more of a business orientation, and the other more of an environment / climate orientation, 'though of course there's considerable overlap.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to James Butler,

    The signal to start the killing was The Internationale,

    I hope this helps then.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • barnaclebarnes, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Back at one of the early KiwiFOO's Cunliffe really impressed with his grasp of the issues. I think he will be good for ICT.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 90 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I know IT is a big focus of folks here but IT only exists because scientists created it for our own needs.

    LOL

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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