Ralston

Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, March 23rd, 2009 - 28 comments
Categories: Media - Tags: , ,

Bill Ralston:

Key used a great example at a Combined Trade Union conference on productivity when he pointed out only 10 luxury 7 series BMWs were sold in the whole of the USA last month.

Ah, so that’s what CTU stands for. Why would anyone employ this fool as a commentator?

28 comments on “Ralston ”

  1. Perhaps because of the preceding paragraphs:

    Actually, the good news is many of those top trading partners are across the Tasman or in Asia and, as Key points out, those economies are in a better position than elsewhere in the world not only for a faster recovery but they may come out of this stronger than before.

    He is right that we are in a better position than, say, the United States. There, the economy is in freefall.

    We still have a flow of credit, our mortgage rates are dropping fast, our banking system is stronger than most with better lending practices.

    Apart from a few lemming-like finance companies and property developers we haven’t had what Key calls the “rinky-dink housing and finance deals that led to bad-debt problems in the rest of the world”.

    And, as he pointed out last week, even in a recession the world still has to eat and we export huge amounts of tucker not high-end electronics and high-priced cars.

    Quite compelling evidence is to why he should be employed I would think.

  2. roger nome 2

    Bob – because Tane’s analysis usually goes beyond knee-jerk, glib, uninformed and cliched rubbish. The same can’t be said for Ralston unfortunately.

  3. ieuan 3

    OK, I had to check, it’s ‘Council of Trade Unions’, to be honest I always thought it was the ‘Combined Trade Unions’.

    You learn something new every day.

    How come you guys aren’t all over Heather Roy and her comments about independent schools?

  4. Link me up ieuan!

    On the topic of 7 series bmw’s, when will National be trading them in for corollas, you all remember what a big deal it was at the time, massive waste of money.

    • Kevin Welsh 4.1

      Apparently they will be trading them in on Hummers.

      More gallons to the mile, helping out their GM mates, a poke in the eye for Labour, and no left leaning greenie is gonna tell them what car to drive. Goddam nanny state.

  5. ieuan 5

    Heather Roy article on stuff at:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2281083/Private-schools-await-10m-boost

    I like her line about private schools being more ‘efficient’ and state schools should emulate them – I guess charging twice what a state school gets per pupil makes you more ‘efficient’.

    Sorry to thread jack.

    • QoT 5.1

      Curse you! *shakes fist* Nothing annoys me more than private schools whinging about how hard life is. (Okay, not nothing, just very little)

    • IQ is quite hereditary, and is a good indicator of how much money you are likely to be earning. Quite simply private schools do better academically cause the parents who can afford to send their children there, generally have quite smart children. Heather Roy seems to be treading quite a fine line, sure they would like private education to be cheaper, but they have to keep the riff raff out some how.

      • Tigger 5.2.1

        How does not being able to run your school on your received income (and therefore having to integrate) make you ‘efficient’? Shouldn’t NACT be slamming these schools as examples of the market separating the weak from the strong (ie. the weak schools go under, the strong ones survive – isn’t that capitalism at work?).

        How many NACTs went to private school and how many wanted to go to private school? I’m wondering because I suspect some of this love for private schools is about them feeling they missed out when growing up rather than wanting to continue some privileged life. All the right wing voters I know when to their local high school so to paint them all as rich private school pricks (as I would love to do) is possibly wrong.

      • Ag 5.2.2

        I guess your parents were pretty dumb then.

        But this is silly. I knew plenty of kids who were sent to private school, and they were all pulled out of the state system because they weren’t doing well. That’s not because the state system was bad, but because they were thick.

      • Ag 5.2.3

        Besides, our schools stopped sorting for IQ years ago. One of the things I find funniest is that the same ambitious parents who promote “excellence” and “competition” in schools are the same people responsible for the dumbing down of education.

        It used to be the case that, if you lacked academic aptitude, that no amount of hard work would ever allow you to win, because examinations were more or less designed to filter for academic aptitude. But Mr and Mrs Ambitious parents were horrified that their hard working moronic kid should be disadvantaged by such a system, so when I was at school, it started to be changed to reflect internal assessment and other things that the bovine hard working could “succeed” at. Now it seems to be most like that.

        Hell, we’ve even abandoned education in favour of job training, which is a perverse thing for a supposedly democratic society to do.

        The funny thing is that the very same people now complain about grade inflation and a curriculum that allows any idiot who puts in the time to do well… and they can’t even make the link. Well, you get what you asked for. Tomorrow’s schools was perhaps the worst educational initiative in the history of the country. Schools worked better when they were free from meddling, and when education wasn’t seen as a consumption good.

    • Evidence-Based Practice 5.3

      Private schools are actually more dangerous for kids as they don’t have the accountability that ERO demands of state school boards. Their boards of directors merely have to show that they make some gesture to teach the curriculum but apart from that they are a corporate business and can hire and fire who they want, teach what they want, enrol who they want, charge what they like, and have the working and physical conditions they want within the law. Ask to see their bullying or education trips policies – they are unlikely to have them – and even if they did, they don’t have to tell the parents anything.

      • Tim Ellis 5.3.1

        EPB, I don’t think your comment is very evidence-based.

        All schools registered under the Education Act, including private schools, are subject to ERO reporting requirements. The standards for workign and physical conditions, curriculum, employment standards, health and safety practices, bullying, etc, are no different for private schools than they are for public schools.

        If you really are interested in evidence-based practice, then I could maybe suggest that you read some ERO reports before making such broad, sweeping statements about the quality of teaching in schools.

    • lprent 5.4

      That’s ok. Interesting link and the thread wasn’t going anywhere from what I can see.

  6. Tim Ellis 6

    KITNO, I missed John Key or the National Party making a big fuss about the BMWs. I remember TV3 took a few pot-shots at it, and I seem to recall Jeanette Fitzsimons taking a swipe at the purchase. Have you got any references for a big campaign from National to get rid of them and promising corollas as their replacement?

    • Oh sorry, must have just been David Farrar then.

      • Tim Ellis 6.1.1

        DPF appears to have written two posts about the issue KITNO, both of which criticised the political strategy of making such a decision in election year given the perception that they are luxury vehicles. There weren’t any calls for the BMW fleet to be replaced or ditched, let alone a replacement with Corollas. I can’t find any such statement from John Key either.

        There was however criticism from Jeanette Fitzsimons for the decision, at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/183247 .

        • Pascal's bookie 6.1.1.1

          Tim who said anything about John Key or National making a big deal of it?

          • Tim Ellis 6.1.1.1.1

            PB, I took KITNO’s comment above, which reads:

            On the topic of 7 series bmw’s, when will National be trading them in for corollas, you all remember what a big deal it was at the time, massive waste of money.

            To mean that National and/or John Key did make a big deal of it. Which they didn’t.

  7. QoT 7

    Christ on a bike.

  8. ben 8

    Why would anyone employ this fool as a commentator?

    Well, you think wages depend on employment law and unions.

    Call it even.

    • Quoth the Raven 8.1

      Wages depend on a market. Unions increase the bargaining power of workers and allow them to bargain collectively in the market. Employment laws regulate the market. Sometimes to the advantage of workers usually to their detriment creating a buyers market not a sellers market. So what’s your problem? Not enough voodoo economics.

  9. Corollas rule

    captcha: cernible sudden (dis?)

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T08:43:58+00:00