If National wins ...

[Sgt Pepper]

That's a rather convenient version of the truth, depending on ones viewpoint. Mr Little did not just "question" the donation, he openly slagged the donor, not once, not twice, but three times in various interviews and that was after he had gone public on his concerns related to links government decisions.


Notwithstanding that this will all comes out in the court case, Mr Little appears to have become emboldened by the media interest and his 'duty' as leader of the opposition, thereupon stepping over the line and directly accusing the donors, in language unbecoming of anyone with moral fortitude. Worse still, he seems now to realise he was just plain wrong in doing so and his defence is to minimise the political collateral damage and personal financial damage which appears to be imminently due.

What goes round comes around and Mr Little appears almost certain to rue the day that he didn't do his research thoroughly, got a head of steam up, slandered the donor, and failed miserably to manage the mounting fallout.

I note the breach of copyright case which Enimen is taking against the National Party is scheduled for next month. Should the court decide in Enimens favour what are the potential penalties that the National Party could face? Does anyone know?

[Baa_Baa]

I note the breach of copyright case which Enimen is taking against the National Party is scheduled for next month. Should the court decide in Enimens favour what are the potential penalties that the National Party could face? Does anyone know?

I don't know and am not sure anyone could answer your question pending the court decision, but here is some case law where the respondent is heavily disguised, for downloading Eminem music. https://justice.govt.nz/assets/Docum...12-NZCOP-3.pdf

[elZorro]

I don't know and am not sure anyone could answer your question pending the court decision, but here is some case law where the respondent is heavily disguised, for downloading Eminem music. https://justice.govt.nz/assets/Docum...12-NZCOP-3.pdf

So in other words, a very small fine that National would have known about, beforehand.

Besides not obeying copyright laws, here's another area National isn't too good at - innovation for NZ's businesses.

https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tax-in...y+7+April+2017

The resulting policies have been fine for larger businesses, but have starved SMEs of readily accessible subsidies and incentives.

And now, here we are, towards what is hopefully the end of National's term in office, and over the last five years this "business friendly" govt has achieved what? A 10% reduction in the number of exporting businesses over the last five years. That is without doubt, a terrible and damning statistic, when the population has been rising.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/busine...y-numbers-fall

[fungus pudding]

So in other words, a very small fine that National would have known about, beforehand.

Besides not obeying copyright laws, here's another area National isn't too good at - innovation for NZ's businesses.

https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tax-in...y+7+April+2017

The resulting policies have been fine for larger businesses, but have starved SMEs of readily accessible subsidies and incentives.

And now, here we are, towards what is hopefully the end of National's term in office, and over the last five years this "business friendly" govt has achieved what? A 10% reduction in the number of exporting businesses over the last five years. That is without doubt, a terrible and damning statistic, when the population has been rising.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/busine...y-numbers-fall

No doubt about it eZ. We're all doomed.

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/rating

S&P Moody's Fitch TERating
Albania B+ Stable B1 Stable 35
Andorra BBB- Stable BBB Positive 65
Angola B Negative B1 Negative B Negative 41
Argentina B Stable B3 Positive B Stable 15
Armenia B1 Stable B+ Stable 43
Aruba BBB+ Positive BBB- Stable 63
Australia AAA Negative Aaa Stable AAA Stable 97
Austria AA+ Stable Aa1 Negative AA+ Stable 96
Azerbaijan BB+ Negative Ba1 Negative BB+ Negative 55
Bahamas BB+ Stable Baa3 Stable 65
Bahrain BB- Stable Ba2 Negative BB+ Stable 60
Bangladesh BB- Stable Ba3 Stable BB- Stable 40
Barbados CCC+ Negative Caa3 Stable 53
Belarus B- Stable Caa1 Stable B- Stable 25
Belgium AA Stable Aa3 Stable AA- Stable 88
Belize B- Stable Caa2 Stable 25
Benin N/A N/A N/A N/A 30
Bermuda A+ Stable A2 Stable N/A N/A 91
Bolivia BB Stable Ba3 Negative BB- Stable 38
Bosnia and Herzegovina B Stable B3 Stable 28
Botswana A- Negative A2 Stable 73
Brazil BB Negative Ba2 Stable BB Negative 34
Bulgaria BB+ Stable Baa2 Stable BBB- Stable 53
Burkina Faso B- Positive 30
Cambodia N/A N/A B2 Stable 30
Cameroon B Stable B2 Stable B Stable 30
Canada AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 99
Cape Verde B Negative Watch B Stable 35
Cayman Islands Aa3 Stable 85
Chile AA- Negative Aa3 Stable A+ Negative 78
China AA- Negative Aa3 Negative A+ Stable 80
Colombia BBB Negative Baa2 Stable BBB Stable 52
Congo B- Negative B3 Stable 25
Costa Rica BB- Negative Ba2 Negative BB Stable 50
Croatia BB Stable Ba2 Stable BB Stable 45
Cuba Caa2 Positive 20
Cyprus BB+ Stable B1 Positive BB- Positive 36
Czech Republic AA- Stable A1 Stable A+ Stable 81
Denmark AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 100
Dominican Republic BB- Stable B1 Positive BB- Stable 36
Ecuador B Stable B3 Stable B Negative 29
Egypt B- Stable B3 Stable B Stable 28
El Salvador B- Negative B3 Negative B Negative 41
Estonia AA- Stable A1 Stable A+ Stable 81
Ethiopia B Stable B1 Stable B Stable 31
European Union AA Stable 99
Fiji B+ Stable B1 Positive 33
Finland AA+ Stable Aa1 Stable AA+ Stable 96
France AA Stable Aa2 Stable AA Stable 90
Gabon B Stable B1 Negative B+ Negative 40
Georgia BB- Stable Ba3 Stable BB- Stable 38
Germany AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 100
Ghana B- Stable B3 Stable B Negative 31
Greece B- Stable Caa3 Stable CCC N/A 10
Grenada SD Negative
Guatemala BB Negative Ba1 Stable BB Stable 49
Honduras B+ Positive B2 Positive 33
Hong Kong AAA Negative Aa1 Negative AA+ Stable 95
Hungary BBB- Stable Baa3 Stable BBB- Stable 47
Iceland A Stable A3 Stable BBB+ Positive 55
India BBB- Stable Baa3 Positive BBB- Stable 48
Indonesia BB+ Positive Baa3 Positive BBB- Positive 46
Iraq B- Stable B- Stable 25
Ireland A+ Stable A3 Positive A Stable 70
Isle of Man N/A N/A Aa1 Negative 98
Israel A+ Stable A1 Stable A+ Stable 76
Italy BBB- Stable Baa2 Negative BBB+ Negative 60
Ivory Coast Ba3 Stable B+ Stable 38
Jamaica B Stable B3 Stable B Stable 24
Japan A+ Stable A1 Stable A Negative 78
Jordan BB- Negative B1 Stable 45
Kazakhstan BBB- Negative Baa3 Negative BBB Stable 61
Kenya B+ Stable B1 Stable B+ Negative 20
Kuwait AA Stable Aa2 Negative AA Stable 90
Kyrgyzstan NR N/A B2 Stable 30
Latvia A- Stable A3 Stable A- Stable 69
Lebanon B- Stable B2 Negative B- Stable 31
Lesotho B+ Stable 40
Liechtenstein AAA Stable 100
Lithuania A- Stable A3 Stable A- Stable 69
Luxembourg AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 100
Macau Aa3 Negative AA- Stable 88
Macedonia BB- Stable BB Negative 48
Malaysia A- Stable A3 Stable A- Stable 66
Maldives B2 Stable
Malta A- Stable A3 Stable A Positive 74
Mauritius Baa1 Stable 65
Mexico BBB+ Negative A3 Negative BBB+ Stable 60
Moldova B3 Stable 25
Mongolia B- Stable Caa1 Stable B- Stable 36
Montenegro B+ Negative B1 Negative 40
Montserrat BBB- Stable 55
Morocco BBB- Stable Ba1 Positive BBB- Stable 54
Mozambique SD N/A Caa3 Negative CC N/A 30
Namibia Baa3 Negative BBB- Negative 55
Netherlands AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 100
New Zealand AA Stable Aaa Stable AA Stable 90
Nicaragua B+ Stable B2 Stable B+ Stable 33
Nigeria B Stable B1 Stable B+ Negative 28
Norway AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 99
Oman BBB- Negative Baa1 Stable 78
Pakistan B Stable B3 Stable B Stable 19
Panama BBB Stable Baa2 Stable BBB Stable 60
Papua New Guinea B+ Negative B2 Stable 35
Paraguay BB Stable Ba1 Stable BB Stable 41
Peru BBB+ Positive A3 Stable BBB+ Stable 60
Philippines BBB Stable Baa2 Stable BBB- Positive 53
Poland BBB+ Stable A2 Negative A- Stable 67
Portugal BB+ Stable Ba1 Stable BB+ Stable 44
Puerto Rico D Negative 0
Qatar AA Negative Aa2 Negative AA Stable 87
Republic of the Congo B- Stable B3 Negative CCC N/A 30
Romania BBB- Stable Baa3 Positive BBB- Stable 52
Russia BB+ Positive Ba1 Stable BBB- Stable 43
Rwanda B Stable B2 Stable B+ Stable 30
San Marino BBB Negative 65
Saudi Arabia A- Stable A1 Stable A+ Stable 86
Senegal B+ Stable B1 Positive 35
Serbia BB- Positive Ba3 Stable BB- Stable 36
Seychelles BB- Stable 30
Singapore AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 98
Slovakia A+ Stable A2 Stable A+ Stable 80
Slovenia A Positive Baa3 Positive A- Stable 61
Solomon Islands B3 Stable 25
South Africa BB+ Negative Baa2 Negative Watch BBB- Negative 49
South Korea AA Stable Aa2 Stable AA- Stable 84
Spain BBB+ Positive Baa2 Stable BBB+ Stable 62
Sri Lanka B+ Negative B1 Negative B+ Stable 38
St Vincent and the Grenadines B3 Stable 25
Suriname B+ Negative B1 Stable B- Negative 39
Sweden AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 99
Switzerland AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 100
Taiwan AA- Stable Aa3 Stable AA- Stable 82
Thailand BBB+ Stable Baa1 Stable BBB+ Stable 63
Trinidad and Tobago A- Negative Baa3 Negative 68
Tunisia BB- Negative Ba3 Negative B+ Stable 44
Turkey BB Negative Ba1 Negative BB+ Stable 44
Uganda B Stable B2 Stable B+ Stable 33
Ukraine B- Stable Caa3 Stable B- Stable 15
United Arab Emirates AA Stable Aa2 Negative AA Stable 90
United Kingdom AA Negative Aa1 Negative AA Negative 95
United States AA+ Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 97
Uruguay BBB Negative Baa2 Negative BBB- Stable 56
Venezuela CCC Negative Caa3 Negative CCC N/A 5
Vietnam BB- Stable B1 Stable BB- Stable 29
Zambia B Negative B3 Negative B Negative 34

[Bjauck]

No doubt about it eZ. We're all doomed.

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/rating

S&P Moody's Fitch TERating...

Actually if you sift through that list and compare NZ to those countries with which we like to be compared, NZ is not doing so well. In fact only the UK has worse credit ratings. And with the UK, their government is in the process of tearing up all their existing trade relationships! In fact the unsolicited TER rating puts NZ even lower than Brexiting UK.

Australia AAA Negative Aaa Stable AAA Stable 97
Canada AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 99
Denmark AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 100
United Kingdom AA Negative Aa1 Negative AA Negative 95
United States AA+ Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 97


New Zealand AA Stable Aaa Stable AA Stable 90

I would suggest that National has allowed the unaffordability of the residential property market to continue to run rampant - with truck loads of household debt putting a strain on NZ's credit standing.

New Zealand’s high household debt levels were of particular concern to the IMF officials
http://www.interest.co.nz/property/8...nz-should-have

[fungus pudding]

Actually if you sift through that list and compare NZ to those countries with which we like to be compared, NZ is not doing so well. In fact only the UK has worse credit ratings. And with the UK, their government is in the process of tearing up all their existing trade relationships! In fact the unsolicited TER rating puts NZ even lower than Brexiting UK.

Australia AAA Negative Aaa Stable AAA Stable 97
Canada AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 99
Denmark AAA Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 100
United Kingdom AA Negative Aa1 Negative AA Negative 95
United States AA+ Stable Aaa Stable AAA Stable 97


New Zealand AA Stable Aaa Stable AA Stable 90

I would suggest that National has allowed the unaffordability of the residential property market to continue to run rampant - with truck loads of household debt putting a strain on NZ's credit standing.

New Zealand’s high household debt levels were of particular concern to the IMF officials
http://www.interest.co.nz/property/8...nz-should-have

Like I said ...we're doomed.
Just like eZ, I can't wait for Labour/Greens to get in power and un-doom us.

[Bjauck]

Like I said ...we're doomed.
Just like eZ, I can't wait for Labour/Greens to get in power and un-doom us.

lol. Nobody has the guts to tackle the mounting debt and housing market. Those that try to...eg TOP...are usually cast as monster raving loonies.

[craic]

Didn't I read somewhere yesterday that we are a billion dollars better off than expected? I know Labour would consider that a mere pittance - they could spend that in a week buying woolly socks for the homeless. A few less exporters? does that not mean that Jack and Jill and Willie and Joe decided to export through Michael and save on half empty containers and thus make a greater profit? I know numbers are hard for the left but they have plenty of time to learn arithmetic before they next come into power.

[winner69]

EZ - just perfect for you mate
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...121921&ed=true

Good on the tip for trying to resurrect her

[fungus pudding]

EZ - just perfect for you mate
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...121921&ed=true

Good on the tip for trying to resurrect her

Poor old Helen. Says she's dusty, weathered and chipped around the edges.