Forest Owners' Association David Rhodes said "We welcome the party's support from 2013 for offsetting - the replanting of a harvested forest in a new location - as this will enable land use to change in response to market signals. We are concerned, however, at the implication that National would consider, as a quid pro quo, revoking all the second tranche of compensation units for pre-1990 forestry."
3:14pm: Whitireia journalism students who set up the "sexiest politician poll" have reported in newswire.co.nz that the poll was a "spoof" they set up in an attempt to demonstrate the "fatuous nature of polls during election season".
3:01pm: NZ Herald reported Labour campaign spokesperson Grant Robertson has accused Prime Minister John Key of "ducking the tough questions" by refusing to debate Labour's Phil Goff. In a promo for this weekend's episode of The Nation, TV3 said Mr Key refused to appear on the show.This is the latest in a string of "no-show" said Roberston and it's not good enough. For the full story see here.
2:58pm: Brash has announced Act's rural policy. He said "Farmers have been saddled with higher energy costs due to the ETS and will be hit again if their biological emissions are included in the scheme from 2015. ACT will hold National to its promise to keep agriculture out of the ETS and is the only party in Parliament who would do so.
"The bureaucracy of the Resource Management Act treats rural people like squatters on their own land and stifles economic growth. ACT will overhaul the RMA and reinstate the right for property owners to use their land as they see fit, subject to respecting the rights of others." For the full policy, see here.
2:50pm: Labour's full education policy is now online. See here for details.
2:41pm; National MP Tau Henare responds to Labours Hamilton campaign in tweet.
@tauhenare West Side Tory
"@dchengnzh how do they get away with getting kids to hold that Labour stuff. Teachers let them that's how. Labour uses young PI Maori."
"@dchengnzh or that maybe the kids of the MPs ? Narp".
2:37pm: Phil Goff tweets from Hamilton @phil_goff
"Kids at Crawshaw School in Hamilton for the launch of our Education Policy" with pic.
2:33pm: Labour have announced their education policies in Hamilton today. According to the NZ Herald a "Labour-led Government would invest $75m over four years to put laptops into the hands of 31,000 year 7 to year 13 students in low-decile schools."
E-learning was at the centre of its education policy, announced this today at Crawshaw School in Hamilton.
"We know technology is one of the most important tools in developing 21st century schools," education spokeswoman Sue Moroney said. For the full article, see here.
2:27pm: Derek Cheng tweets again from the Labour campaign trail @dchengnzh
"An audience captivated" with pic.
2:19pm: NZ Herald political reporter Derek Cheng tweets
@dchengnzh
"Labour will partly fund e-learning by scrapping private school scholarships for students from low-decile schools #votenz"
1:55pm: Key has hinted to the NZ Herald that some money from asset sales will go towards improving hospitals around the country. "There's quite clearly the need for an improvement in our hospitals, we've spent a lot over the last three years... there's more to be done."
Since the election campaign began, Mr Key has already announced $1 billion of the money from partially privatising state owned energy companies would go towards improving schools, and yesterday that a further $400 million would go on irrigation projects. Full story here.
1:53pm: Pundit blogger Tim Watkin, after chairing the Epsom candidates debate last night, said "John Banks has no qualms about the National-ACT deal that's defining the Epsom race; I guess he has no choice. I asked him why, when asked on Campbell Live what was the ACT brand, he replied "Brand Key". Why is ACT's brand based on the leader of another party and not his own leader?"
1:48pm: Tau Henare tweets @tauhenare
"I have the privilege of standing in for the PM at the 3rd and final Helensville candidates debate tonight at the Kaukapakapa Hall, 7:30pm."
1:42pm NZ Herald chief political commentator John Armstrong writes National's biggest problem this election will be "voter apathy".
"National's enemy in this election is no longer Labour so much. It is the combination of voter complacency, voter apathy and low turnout - that voters drawn to National either do not feel they have to tick National on the ballot paper because the result is a foregone conclusion or cannot finally bring themselves to do so even in the privacy of the polling booth." For the full article click here.
1:34pm: Idiot/Savant tweets @norightturnnz
"Ran into Paula Bennett and Leonie Hapeta in the mall. Ick. People leaving were not impressed by them."
1:28pm: Craig said on Radio Live that he doesn't want to be" beholden" to National and that he has no interest in "going for tea" with John Key. He also said he is confident in the support his party is getting and is happy to take some of Act's votes.
1:25pm: Colin Craig, Conservative party leader is talking to Radio Live now. Listen here.
1:20pm: Greens candidate Gareth Hughes has attributed the death of 800 snails to Labour. He tweets at @GarethMP: "Sad to hear news that 800 giant Powelliphanta augusta snails died in DoC fridges because their Mt Augustus home was mined under Labour."
1:15pm: Phil Goff tweets @phil_goff
"My first act as Prime Minister will be to put a stop to the sale of state assets." #ownourfuture
1:08pm: Maori Party leader Dr Pita Sharples has accused Don Brash of "leading Act into oblivion" because of his position on Te Reo Maori in schools according to a press release. Sharples said "We are watching the final ACT, and Don Brash is bringing down the curtain. His opposition to New Zealand children being able to learn Maori is irresponsible, discriminatory and out-of-touch."
1:05pm: Phil Goff tweets from the campaign trail
@phil_goff
"Out and about meeting people in Hamilton before the launch of our Education Policy this afternoon" With pic.
1:00pm: David Farrar tweets at @dpfdpf
"Phil Goff is now complaining about people who holiday in Hawaii. Why does he not just do what Cullen did and call Key a rich prick?" #votenz
12:22pm: Cartoonist Adrian Maidment has posted his latest cartoon on Scoop, with his idea for Labour's next billboard. It includes a new slogan to consider. Good for a laugh. See here for full image.
12:19pm: Fairfax reporter Andrea Vance tweets @avancenz
"second term national government will cut waiting times for surgery from six months to four by 2014" #votenz
12:15pm: Environment and Conservations of NZ have released a press release criticising National's climate and environmental policies as too weak. It said "The Bill relating to the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf is welcome, but it has serious flaws too, and clearly envisages economic growth trumping environmental protection. There are no guarantees that our precious marine environment will actually be properly looked after."
12:09pm: Phil Goff said on Midday Report that raising the minimum wage will help the economy in the long run. He also said people who work a full week deserve a reasonable wage.
12:07pm: According to Radio NZ's Midday Report, the Greens have proposed a quake rebuild levy that would be generated by tax from people with higher incomes. The levy would apply to people earning over $48,000 per year.
11:53am: The Mana Party have accused National of lacking common decency regarding the Glen Innes state housing debacle, where several tenants will lose their homes due to government development.
Mana MP Sue Bradford said "Some of these tenants have been living in this community for three generations. They were born there, it's where their friends and family live, it's their community and it's where they feel they belong. I believe the National Government neither knows nor cares how traumatic this is for the families concerned."
11:48am: National has released a press release regarding the need for ongoing discipline in accounts. "Tax revenue, Government spending and net debt were all slightly lower than expected in the Crown accounts for the three months to 30 September issued today, but these variances are expected to reduce over coming months," said Finance Minister Bill English.
The lower than forecast tax revenue contributed to a slightly larger than expected operating deficit before gains and losses of $2.48 billion for the three months.
11:42am: Labour has released a press release regarding asset sales. "Bankers are already lining up for a fat pay-out," Phil Goff said. "But while bankers anticipate a bonanza from the sell-off of assets Kiwis own, taxpayers will draw the short straw again."
11:37am: Act Epsom candidate John Banks has posted a photo on his Facebook page with his campaign team and a pot of tea in front of him. See pic here. Perhaps a hint?
11:34am: Labour MP Clare Curran tweets @clarecurranmp
"Taxi driver in Wellie reckons polls are rubbish and people want a party and a leader who's genuine about what they'll do"
11:27am: The Maori Party launched their education policy this morning. Some examples of policy are: "We will resource iwi capacity to be engaged in student achievement - as a provider and an advisor in teacher professional development and in teacher recruitment strategies, including iwi bonding schemes - ie. iwi will provide for students in teacher training and they in turn are bonded to deliver to iwi.
We will invest in digital hubs to be established in communities and rural marae."
For the full policy see here.
11:24am: According to Radio NZ, the government books are further "into the red" than expected. The operating deficit excluding investment gains and losses was $2.48 billion, which was $210 million greater than forecast. A lower-than-expected tax take was responsible for the higher deficit.
11:14am: 3news.co.nz reports on Act leader Don Brash's comment that making Te Reo compulsory in schools is "pointless". Brash has said children would be better off learning other languages.
11:09am: NZ Herald reporter Grant Bradley writes "Brokerage fees and other expenses could cost up to $100 million for the state-owned enterprises tagged for partial sale if National wins the election."
11:06am: Labour has released its full health policy on it's site. See here to check it out.
11:04: NZ Herald reporter Derek Cheng tweets
@dchengnzh
"Phil Goff tells Grey Power he personally supports euthanasia and the option to die with dignity" #votenz
11:02am: Whaleoil reports that Labour MP Andrew Little is committed to New Plymouth but only if he wins. "At a New Plymouth candidate debate on Monday night Mr Little said he would not live in New Plymouth if he lost the election then got into Parliament as a List MP."
10:48am: Fairfax reporter Andrea Vance tweets from John Key's campaign trail @avancenz
"He ate the entire prawn for good coverage!" with pic.
10:44am: Political commentator Deborah Coddington posted her response to the "sexiest politician poll" on blogger site Pundit. She said "It reduces the politicians to objects of something to mate with. These are human beings with husbands, wives, partners. They have children, mothers and fathers. Whatever we think of their policies, they give up a huge amount to stand for Parliament and we owe them respect for that. Respect does not mean running a poll encouraging people to look at them in terms of having sex with them."
10:34am: John Key has angered some media oulets by his refusal to talk to them. TV3's The Nation released a press release saying:
"John Key refuses to talk to The Nation so we've gone in search of him. Narelle Suisted follows the Key campaign and finds that its endless photo opportunities are carefully planned stage shows. She also tracks down two Ministers the Nats are trying to keep away from the cameras. One is so anxious to avoid the limelight things turn slightly strange. "
Radio NZ isn't too happy either:
"John Key was invited to come on the programme this morning, he declined. Radio New Zealand's political editor, Brent Edwards, analyses." (H/T the Listener)
10:29am: TVNZ reports on a Fairfax Media-Research poll that says although John Key is considered the most trusted leader for the country when it's in trouble, many people fear he will never tell the full truth. For the full story see here.
10:21am: Act Wellington Central candidate Stephen Whittington has labelled Labour MP Grant Robertson the "self-annointed head of the fun police" due to his support for policy that would legislate a minimum price for alcohol and place a cap on the number of taxi's allowed to operate in town. For the full press release see here.
10:12am: The "sexiest politician poll", set up by Whitireia New Zealand journalism students has drawn criticism from Kiwiblog blogger David Farrar on his site because of its media coverage. He writes: "I do think the poll is inappropriate for two reasons. The first is there is a difference between a poll asking someone to rate hotness, and explicitly asking "Which politician would you go to bed with". A fine line maybe, but one that got crossed. The second is that the annual hotness survey of MPs is done by Durex."
10:08am: Labour has issued a press release regarding the quadrupling of demand for food parcels at a South Auckland budgetting service. Annette King wrote "For two years I have been telling John Key and his government that increasing numbers of families cannot cope. His response is to dismiss any bad news and tell New Zealand his actions have 'blunted the sharp edges of the recession'.
10:04am TVNZ reporter Jessica Mutch tweets @MutchJessica
"John Key posing with a child dressed as a mexican at a prawn farm" ... #votenz with pic.
9:59am: On TVNZ's Breakfast, United Future leader Peter Dunne said the 1% rating in the polls is not the end, because there is still a need for his party's politics. "There's a group of New Zealanders who feel that the extremes of either the left or the right do need to be moderated," he said. See the full interview here.
9:55am: Political reporter Kate Newton at the Dominion Post reports: "Don Brash was called a sex addict, Peter Dunne was "Ayn Rand with hair" and Katrina Shanks was accused of using her family to pull votes. A heated race in the Ohariu electorate got grubby yesterday as candidates traded insults, with Labour's Charles Chauvel leading the charge."
9:35:am TVNZNews tweets @TVNZ News
"Peter Dunne says United Future has ruled out working with Labour this election." #votenz
9:22am: NZ First Leader Winston Peters campaigned to voters in Dunedin yesterday, according to the Otago Daily Times. "National, Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party had all encouraged inequality, separatism and divisiveness, he said, while New Zealand First stood firmly for the principle of one law for all and one person, one vote."
He also said a review of the constitution was happening "behind closed doors" with the backing of John Key.
9: 15am: A potentially firey stand off between National Social Development minister Paula Bennett and Mana Candidate Sue Bradford in the Waitakere electorate, ended up being surprisingly tame last night. Neither Bennett nor Bradford resorted to cheap shots, despite previous mutual criticism. For the full NZ Herald story click here.
9:08am: 3news.co.nz reports John Key starts campaigning in Taupo and Rotorua today. Labour leader Phil Goff will be speaking in Auckland to Grey Power then heading to Hamilton to announce Labour's flagship education policy. Full story here.
9:02am: The Palmerston North electoral seat will be one of the toughest seats for Labour to hold, reports Whaleoil, because the running MP Iain Lees-Galloway is so disliked in comparison to National candidate Leonie Hapeta. Slater writes "The 27% difference between Labour and National means this seat should swing... Iain has further complications because he is facing a very competent campaigner instead of a dull, inept old guy who thought he could win votes by waving at people driving past every morning, when they usually ended up thinking maybe he had early onset Alzheimer's."
8:57am: nzherald.co.nz has reported Act MP John Banks won't ask John Key to publicly back him because he has more pride than that. "I'm a proud person. And I've got to paddle my own canoe here. I can't be spending all day in bed with a lemon drink waiting for the Prime Minister to call me." Full story here.
8:48am: The Epsom candidates fronted up to voters last night to debate policy including men's issues, father's custody access and family court. Newstalk ZB reported locals got the chance to ask Labour MP David Parker about a capital gains tax and why it wasn't implemented earlier. Act MP John Banks stood up and said government should "back off" and that "the best opportunity for this country will come when the government is off the back of small businesses".
8:43am: 3news.co.nz political editor Duncan Garner blogged that the Mana Party leader Hone Harawira no longer carries any influence compared to others in parliament. "With Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples retiring at the 2014 election, the leadership of the Maori Party could have easily gone to Harawira, if he sat tight, stayed in the tent, managed his activism and been a bit more patient. That he hasn't is tragic."
8:40am: The Standard blogger James Henderson wrote National's ETS policy changes have "opened a second great big hole in their budget." He said "National would delay the end of the 'two for one' deal that polluters currently get for their carbon credits, phasing it out over 3 years, rather than ending it in 2013, keep the price cap of $25 a tonne, and 'review' the entry of agriculture into the ETS." Full story here.
8:34am: Vocal anti-National New Zealand celebrity Robyn Malcolm tweets @robynmalcolm
"Nats new "environment policy" an irresponsible, lilly livered joke."
8:31am: Martyn Bradbury tweets @CitizenBomber
"iPredict Election Show 7pm tonight with Winston Peters & Selwyn Manning, STRATOS Freeview 21 & Sky 89" with pic.
8:27am: Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater has posted regarding Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove's latest ad in the Christchurch Mail.
"Not a single mention of Labour. Very smart," he said.
8:24am: Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty tweets @greencatherine
"Greens support Te Reo available in all schools, I am keen on a trilingual Aotearoa, Te Reo, Sign and English for all"
8:16am: On Radio NZ, Green Party co-leader Russell Norman said National's ETS emissions policy shows a "lack of courage" to control pollution. He believes National wants tax payers to foot the bill rather than the government. The main sector this affects is the dairy sector, said Norman. The best way to incentivise dairy emissions is to put a price on it.
8:11am: On Radio NZ's Morning Report, Hato Petera College school board member Terry Dunleavy has said making Te Reo Maori compulsory in schools would help New Zealanders better understand their country.
8:08am: Morning Report has coverage of John Key campaigning for his electorate seat in Helensville, where he said if the people don't believe he has done a good job as Prime Minister, then they should vote him out. "It's called democracy," he said.
8:05am: On Morning Report: Labour Party leader Phil Goff has once again gone on the attack, this time regarding National's "fiscal credibility". Goff claims Prime Minister John Key's figures are "shonky" and that they overlap between projects.
8:00am:Welcome back to our live updates for the Election 2011. On Radio NZ's Morning Report, the Maori Party wants to make it compulsory for schools to offer Te Reo Maori by 2015. The Labour party said the policy is not a new one and has the potential to be divisive. The Mana Party says the Maori language should be compulsory until Year 11. The ACT Party says for most New Zealanders Te Reo is substantially irrelevant and learning languages such as Spanish and Chinese are more important to the country's future.
