tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post5078691449768495632..comments2024-03-29T11:07:51.893+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: Executive ObligationsChris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-78430381694384738552010-10-08T15:26:26.925+13:002010-10-08T15:26:26.925+13:00Land ownership is an emotive issue and, perhaps, r...Land ownership is an emotive issue and, perhaps, rightly so. Overseas ownership of any resource is likely to result in a net economic loss over time.<br /><br />But I have to agree with Adolf that there are additional reasons for fearing a vertical integration strategy backed by Chinese interests.<br /><br />We sell land-based produce overseas on the basis of our clean, green image. Tied up with that are notions of sustainable land use and the humane and responsible treatment of animals. <br /><br />Whether or not this image is justified is a separate question. Whatever its accuracy, it still means money in the bank for New Zealand <br /><br />However, sustainability and animal welfare are not issues that currently count for much in China. We should therefore be particularly wary of Chinese ownership of the paddock-to-plate chain, which has huge potential for damaging our brand in other markets.<br /><br />Of course, New Zealand landowners are also undermining our brand when they overstock, fail to have sufficient emergency feed, plan for lambing too early in the year or induce calf births to ensure their cows are ready for commercial milking as soon as possible.Victornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-25877874545871065392010-10-08T00:22:13.796+13:002010-10-08T00:22:13.796+13:00I'm heading off on a bit of a tangent here (pa...I'm heading off on a bit of a tangent here (partly because I've recently been number-crunching the 2008 Mana vote figures and I feel the deep, deep need, Chris, to spew-out some of my analysis here - hope you don't mind).<br /><br />But I'm interested in the degree to which Labour's new, harder line on foreign ownership will help to shore-up Kris Fa'afoi's vote in the up-coming Mana by-election. It's clearly one of the few policy lines attractive to both Green and NZ First supporters alike and I have a feeling they're the ones who may well play a decisive role in the outcome of this by-election (certainly in terms of majority-size).<br /><br />Phil Quin has rightly argued that the 2008 PARTY-VOTE is a far better reflection of Mana's political complexion than Laban's CANDIDATE-VOTE.<br /><br />Lab received 15209 PARTY-VOTES (43.9 %) in Mana in 2008 (just 2508 votes ahead of the Nats - with 36.7 % of the PARTY-VOTE); while Laban took 18070 CANDIDATE-VOTES (53.1 %), giving her a majority of 6155 over Nat's Parata (35 %).<br /><br />So, Laban received 2861 more CANDIDATE-VOTES than Labour received PARTY-VOTES in Mana.<br /><br />Quin argues that the 2008 PARTY-VOTE in Mana is the more accurate indicator of political sentiment because of Laban's unusual popularity (enhanced, he suggests, by a sympathy-vote given the circumstances of her health).<br /><br />But I'd suggest the importance/relevance has more to do with the fact that voters only have one vote in a by-election. Of Laban's 6155 majority, 4452 votes came from people who split their vote (casting their PARTY-VOTE for parties other than Lab). 1757 from Greens, 1091 from Nats, 695 from NZ First supporters and 909 from minor-party voters.<br /><br />With the luxury of two votes at 2008 General Election, these non-Labour people could cast their CANDIDATE-VOTE for Laban safe in the knowledge that they'd already expressed their core political allegiance with the crucial PARTY-VOTE. The question is: what will they do in a by-election where they only have a CANDIDATE-VOTE ?<br /><br />Assuming these 4452 people are not simply floating-voters/undecideds/softly-aligned, it's quite possible that - like most Mana voters - they'll treat the by-election like a pre-1996 General Election = voting for the candidate of their preferred Party/the Party they're aligned to/the Party they want to see in Government (more akin to a PARTY-VOTE under MMP than a CANDIDATE-VOTE).<br /><br />Meaning, the 1757 Greens potentially voting for the Green candidate rather than Fa'afoi, the 1091 Nats going for Parata and so on.<br /><br />Which is why I at least partially agree with Phil Quin to the extent that this could be a closer by-election than many are predicting. It's crucial for Labour activists to not only ensure a healthy turn-out of Lab voters (particularly in its Eastern Porirua and Titahi Bay heartland), but also to convince as many of these 4452 voters to back Fa'afoi. The Green and NZ First voters are particularly important here. Encouraging them to vote strategically will certainly help. So will Goff's new stance on foreign ownership.markusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-67497717665934710442010-10-07T18:47:09.893+13:002010-10-07T18:47:09.893+13:00Mr Trotter, I don't believe I had anything to ...Mr Trotter, I don't believe I had anything to say about the previous administration. You are 'diverting.'<br /><br />The fact is, New Zealanders own hundreds of thousands of hectares of farm land in other countries.<br /><br />My objection to sales of large tracts of farmland to Chinese interests is that their track record is such that one can expect such ownership eventually to be damaging to New Zealand's interests.<br /><br />Pretty simple really.Adolf Fiinkenseinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08045358863278087055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-67631097873441774032010-10-07T16:15:31.393+13:002010-10-07T16:15:31.393+13:00"New Zealand is the new Eden, its clean and g..."New Zealand is the new Eden, its clean and green image the beneficiary of a public-relations windfall direct from Middle-earth. Americans are not just visiting the country in numbers unimaginable only five years ago—they’re immigrating, drawn by an arcadian ideal (never underestimate the pacifying effect of several billion sheep), breathtakingly cheap waterfront real estate, see-through fish-tank architecture, and an investment climate that, as one Las Vegas resort owner–cum–South Island winemaker puts it, makes New Zealand “the Switzerland of the South Seas.”<br />One of the most powerful forces in the shilling of the nation is Helen Clark, familiar to all Kiwis as Madame Prime Minister. In her book, there are no bad tourists, only ones with shallow pockets. And in a recent campaign that will go down in history, Clark aggressively packaged and promoted New Zealand as a place where Californians in particular, because of their relative proximity and the kinship in lifestyles, might consider putting down roots. “Active recruitment,” she called it, and some of the state’s richest residents signed up. Vive le marketing."<br />http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/kiwi-country/1jhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-55477522967070181492010-10-07T15:24:56.921+13:002010-10-07T15:24:56.921+13:00To: Christopher Thompson.
Really, Mr Thompson, I ...To: Christopher Thompson.<br /><br />Really, Mr Thompson, I have to wonder whether you even read this posting. <br /><br />Peruse the following extract - and then ask yourself if I've attempted to place all the blame on National.<br /><br />"Nor should we overlook the startling fact that under the stewardship of those wearing Labour’s livery the Overseas Investment Office permitted foreigners to purchase an astonishing 650,000 hectares of the people’s demesne.<br /><br />The Wearers of Red, who today criticise the Wearers of Blue for their tardiness in addressing the problem of strategic resource alienation, had nine years to redraft the legislation governing the scale and scope of foreign investment in New Zealand – and did little more than tinker around the edges."<br /><br />To Adolf:<br /><br />Since this blog only started after the 2008 General Election linking back to Labour's reign would be difficult.<br /><br />Let me assure you, however, that when it comes to this country's lax rules governing foreign investment I have for many years been a staunch critic of BOTH parties .Chris Trotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-12490355245025215522010-10-07T12:22:20.066+13:002010-10-07T12:22:20.066+13:00As long as white people don't own it then it&#...As long as white people don't own it then it's ok. <br />That's about what it all adds up to now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-50824055832116297132010-10-07T12:18:33.530+13:002010-10-07T12:18:33.530+13:00Don't know whether you've noticed, Mr Trot...Don't know whether you've noticed, Mr Trotter, a hell of a lot of New Zealanders own farms in New Zealand on which they do not live.<br /><br />DO you have any figures on the number of hectares of farmland sold back into Kiwi ownership by foreign investors over the last ten years? Might give your otherwise excellent rant a little balance.Adolf Fiinkenseinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08045358863278087055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-11716802675374230712010-10-07T12:14:07.879+13:002010-10-07T12:14:07.879+13:00I am sure I missed them but perhaps you could remi...I am sure I missed them but perhaps you could remind me how balanced your point of view is by linking to all the posts you made about the previous decade when all that land was sold off. You know, during the tenure of your labour government. Why wait until now and then try and sneak in the last 10 years as if it was all down to National?Christopher Thomsonnoreply@blogger.com