Vincent speculates on closed door talks between John Key and Fonterra executives. Will Fonterra move towards more value added products or keep groning by producing more. Is what is good for Fonterra actually good for New Zealand?
Tags: Fonterra, john key, sustainability, vincent heeringa
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Today’s emerging stars seem to have a lot to say about all kinds of issues, from cancer to climate change. They front campaigns, they show up at charity events, and sometimes they write out a cheque. But not everybody is impressed. Last week, at a business forum in Brisbane, John Key lambasted Whale Rider star Keisha Castle-Hughes for calling for a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. Key now says his comments were “flippant”, but the question remains: what role do young celebrities have in promoting worthy causes, or should they just butt out? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
Listen/Download Jehan Casinader on Young Celebrities on Soapboxes
The opposition leader is having a tough time getting noticed and recognised as the new leader of the Labour Party and as a viable option for Prime Minister.
In a TV3 poll Phil Goff rated below Helen Clark as preferred PM. So what is he going to do to lift his ratings? The Labour campaign for the Mt Albert seat has begun in earnest but there is currently no candidate. And did the Labour Government do enough to protect New Zealand against the Swine?
Listen/Download Phil Goff on being the Leader
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Labour leader Phil Goff says the Pacific Island’s forum needs to step up and carry through on it’s threats of smart sanctions against Fiji.
Mr Goff made the call after Fiji authorities expelled three foreign journalists and arrested a local reporter in a crackdown on reporting of the nation’s political upheaval. Mr Goff also called on Fijian peacekeepers to be withdrawn from their duties outside of Fiji but stopped short of calling for economic sanctions against the rogue state though suggests John Key enter into talks with partners in the EU and the US who provide aid money to Fiji.
Listen/Download Phil Goff on the problem with Fiji
Every year daylight savings is a riddle that has to be solved again. Is it back, forwards, will it be lighter or darker? Tax cuts on April 1st, is the joke on us? John Key’s car goes to a good cause but he’ll be hoping they behave themselves with it. Will a surcharge on plastic bags rid us of them? How brilliant was the 24 hour sculpture in Wellington over the weekend and TVNZ ban Facebook and Gumtree.
The announced lay-offs at TVNZ present some interesting questions about the future of the state owned broadcaster and its current direction and whether or not the Government should be accepting a dividend at this time. John Key’s choice of language in describing the situation has him sounding more like a company CEO than a Prime Minister. And Russell is excited about the release of iPhone 3.0. Russell Brown is chief blogger at publicaddress.net.
Listen/Download Russell Brown on TVNZ and iPhone 3.0
Initiatives to get more people into tertiary education and Pacific Island Community involvement were other missed opportunities at the recently held Jobs Summit. Vincent argues that New Zealand needs a skilled workforce to emerge on the other side of the current recession. John Key’s talk in the Wallstreet Journal about productivity growth has Vincent feeling more positive. Vincent Heeringa is the editorial director at Idealog.
Listen/Download Vincent Heeringa on more missed opportunities
The recent John Key sponsored Job Summit that took place in Auckland seemed to come up with few ideas. A cycle way the length of New Zealand was one and a nine day working fortnight was another. Vincent Heeringa argues that the Government is missing some important opportunities in the areas of new industry, innovation and sustainability. Vincent Heeringa is the editorial director at Idealog.
Listen/Download Vincent Heeringa on the Jobs Summit
Russell reports that John Key has agreed to adopt Rodney Hide’s New Zealand Taxpayers Bill of Rights Bill as a government Bill – “with the aim of passing into law a cap on the growth of core Crown expenses.” What does this mean? Also the stuff we may have missed in Afghanistan. Russell Brown is chief blogger at publicaddress.net.
Listen/Download Russell Brown on the stuff we missed
The National party cabinet is shaping up and coalition agreements are being set in stone, giving us a better idea of where policy is headed, in particular investment in broadband infrastructure. How will new policies and investment in new technologies affect the creative economy? Vincent ponders this and more.
Listen/Download Vincent Heeringa on Uncertain Times
