Strategy for Voters

 

This letter got printed in the Press on 26 September - the heading I had selected was Strategy for Voters. I am sad that it was changed. 

Insert photo of Brian'sletter

 

Complex Task

 

Brian Ward (25/09) is right. Making good decisions is a complex matter.  Voters are NOT helped by simple sound bites.  Voters are also turned off by the political commentators who highlight and laugh at petty fights and focus on what voters might think. Politicians and commentators struggle for attention - their jobs depend on it - entertainment is most important. Policy sits behind entertainment.  But more importantly, behind both entertainment and policy sits political strategy. 

The strategy of the right is to create diversions that entertain the commentators and thereby reduce voter turnout.  The extreme right is now actively undermining democracy and turning people away from voting through disinformation. Both National and Labour know this. They both care for the wellbeing of this nation and they fight for their policies to be heard. 

So what can voters do?  Voters can sift through the nonsense and vote for the future, for our young people and for the planet.  It is especially important for voters to encourage those who are bored or disenchanted by politics to vote for the future of their children.  The strategy of voting against the extreme right is critically important.  Let's get everyone to vote.

Elaine Mayo

Hoon Hay

Here is the original of the letter published, abridged, on 19/09/23.  The abridged is better - and almost at the limit of the length the Press publishes.  

 

The story of collaboration in maths ed awaits. 

Insert Photo of the printed versionand also of Hitchin's post.

Ping pong and petty politics

Doug Hitchin (Sept 16) is both right and wrong. Learners from disadvantaged homes lose most if schooling does not inspire them. However, neoliberal dogma rather than "old fashioned organisations" has destroyed progress in education.

I was one of the lucky ones who began teaching in the 1970s when young teachers were respected for the gifts they brought to the system because of their enthusiasm and up to date knowledge.  Fresh approaches to teaching and learning were developed in partnership with experienced teachers, teacher educators, academic researchers, and, importantly, under the guidance of expertise within the Department of Education. 

I benefited personally from this collaborative development.  During the 1980s our Kiwi educators worked together, nationally and internationally, on initiatives which gave girls and "ethnic minorities" opportunities to learn to love mathematics.  This even included "family maths" which included parents.  The fun of exploring ideas while learning maths was previously limited, mainly, to boys in top-stream classes.  Mathematics flourished as a subject during the 1980s.

Then came neoliberalism. The "New Right" reformed the education system by removing centralised control.  It also opened up deregulation and destroyed the collaboration which had enabled this country to achieve high international rankings in education.

Since then we have had 40 Years of ping pong where successive governments have focused on restructuring education, tinkering with the curriculum and assessment, and correcting the perceived errors of the previous administration.

Have we now reached the point, now, where petty politicians can attract voters by telling them how teachers should teach and what equipment they may use, and for how many hours each day?

 

How can we work together to reestablish a shared vision for education?  Our children need it and our teachers need it.  Please, let us move away from ping pong and petty politics. 

 Dr Elaine Mayo

 Hoon Hay

Political thread - 11 September

A week ago I reported on what I choose to watch or listen to weekly.  This is an update.  

Last week: 

Now that parliament is no longer operating we have moved to a different phase.  The following are mainly focused on the election - but not exclusively. 

• Q and A with Jack Tame, TV1 Sunday 9am
• Newshub Nation, TV3 Sat am (and replayed Sun am)
• Caucus, RNZ - Sunday after 6pm news (3min or so) - this is recorded by four senior commentators on the preceding Thursday as a podcast. 
  
• Nine to Noon - RNZ - political commentators after the 11am news (this used to be called "From the Right and From the Left - and has been one of my favourites for years)
• The Hui - TV3 - this week's edition gets my high recommendation - I have not listened to it all, but I am interested in our comments on it.   

The following are all discussion points - not written in a way that should be quoted - they are sloppy writing!  Sometimes ideosyncratic.  

This week - followed by notes on why, and for whom:

1.  Caucus, RNZ - Sunday after 6pm news (3min or so) - this is recorded by four senior commentators on the preceding Thursday as a podcast.   https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/caucus
   
2.  Nine to Noon - RNZ - political commentators after the 11am news (this used to be called "From the Right and From the Left - and has been one of my favourites for years).  This link is to last week's episode where Kathryn Ryan talked with Craig Reddey and Tim Hurdle - each week there are two people who discuss the events of the preceding week.  Kathryn asks good questions - and the discussion is always respectful  It can be downloaded as a podcast and it is possible to subscribe.  And it is possible to access any item in RNZ by going to the log of the programme.   
   
3. Q and A with Jack Tame, TV1 Sunday 9am - The last four shows are available - meaning you have four weeks to watch a programme.  I really like this programme for its depth. 
   
4. Newshub Nation, TV3 Sat am (and replayed Sun am) I cannot find a link to this in its episode form.  But there are lots of clips from this programme listed on TV3's website.  I like the items, but trying to track it on their website is ridiculous.  Last week they looked in depth at the Tamaki electorate.  I like their section where they bring in three experts from different perspectives to comment on their main interviews. I record the programme on Saturday morning off TV3 - it makes a coherent package with lots of different approaches to electorates, people and issues. 
   
5. MediaWatch I like media watch because it critiques the work of the media by investigating how key issues have been addressed by various outlets.  This week half of the session was focused on political impartiality and how editors need to watch what they publish.  The second half was on AI.  
6. I dropped The Hui because it is commonly not so directly focused on national politics. But it is interesting as a way of keeping up with issues within Te Ao Māori.   The link takes you to recent snippets and interviews - it is obvious from the subtitles which relate to politics, but the date of the interview does not show. 
   

In more detail on the first three points.   ..  

(1) Caucus this week was impressive - last week it was much more to do with predicting what might happen.  This team is well prepared, they cover lots of issues, and their views bring in a depth of understanding of political history that I find valuable.  It is not for the faint-hearted by which I mean those who do not have a moderate understanding of what is going on across the media.  

For example, this week Chris Bishop (who is leading the National Party campaign) came out claiming that this will be the most negative campaign ever (or in recent years). The panel discussed negativity and the need to critique the policies of the other parties - and the need to not personalise.  The Council of Trade Unions (who is not the Labour Party, but clearly aligns) had put out a poster where Chris Luxon was labeled as out of touch (Help - what did the poster say?  They discussed "Was this okay?"

Two points were made that interested me:

• the commentators listed and chatted over previous  negative campaigns - including going back to Muldoon's 1975 marching Cossacks - and the fact that National overturned Labour's superfund.  
• They also observed that Chris Bishop's attack diverted the attention away from the content of the CTU poster.  Attack neutralised discussion.   

So Caucus comes in at first place this week.  

(2) Nine to Noon - this week's episode is chaired by Suzie Ferguson, in for Kathryn Ryan.  Sue Moroney (former Labour MP) and Liam Hehir (National Party member) are in discussion.  I am typing as I listen - the topics are 

• pledge cards - are they specific and measurable
  
• tax - there has to be a basic credibility text - do the voters see this as credible - Sue summarises the problems - calls it simplistic - it can do immense harm it they get it wrong of how these  
• EV charging - Liam - this highlights the difference between ACT and National. This kind of thing has worked well in the past, eg Broadband.  Sue - Clean car rebate has been massive - being withdrawn.  HEM - why is this not left to the market to provide - companies are already rolling out more.
  
• 300 extra police - Sue we need to talk about what kind of policing we want.  We cannot have police everywhere - community proactive policing model works - they know the families and the nanas.  Passing law on where alcohol can be sold was great.  
• Expanding use of mental health officers to go out with police, and deal with stalking.  Liam - the mental health policy was in place when Labour come to power.  It is a bit late for rising crime - only now that it has become an election loser - the politics are with National.  Late in the piece - but they have been increasing police - one term only to deal with issues with the pandemic.   HEM - why are Labour not promoting their long-term solutions and the effectiveness of wrap-around support to address youth crime. 
  
• Confidence but no supply agreement - Liam - it is a nonsensical - ACT is stamping its foot - National has been shooting down ACT's policies.  
• NZFirst - Liam - how will the ball bounce - it is a shame for him that his possible partners are not helping.  Sue - does not see how there is room in our constitution to form a government without supply.  If there is vote of confidence - then ACT would approve - but if they cannot pass a budget, then they make the Country non-governable. 
• National - Paul Goldsmith as a candidate for Epsom.  Liam - this is fair cop - win win for voters - National giving act a warning shop.  Sue - interesting to watch on election night - but Paul can go out and vote. 
• Candidate scrutiny - candidates - NZFirst and ACT - taken off lips or resign - three or four or fives points to a more systemic problem.  Long lists of candidates.  TOP (eg) submit a small list.  You put your resources into selection. 
• Waikato - medical school - Sue - University launch for a particular party - Shane Reti - telling him that National Party were not sure about costing - but went ahead and funding.  Added from 100 to 120 students - yea - okay - if this is how they are rolling out policy - people should be aware of the costings.  Liam - we do not know enough to be able to read too much into only part of the conversation. 
  

Suzie had a good list of questions - but not the interactive skill of Kathryn.  It was hard for Liam because he did not have anything much he could defend with. 

(3) Q and A - I love this for its depth.  In the last two weeks the lead interview has been with Chris Hipkins and this week with Chris Luxon.  Jack Tame is a tough interviewer in that he expects and answer to his questions.  It is interesting to compare the two interviews.  A friend of mine was concerned that Jack did not talk with Hipkins about Labour successes - late in the interview he listed problems.  My view was that he answered the questions well (but whether the answers would be heard by the electorate is another question).  The interview with Luxon was different - as I see it, the questions were not answered.  I'm interested in conversation about these two interviews.

Q and A also covers a variety of interviews - this week had a meaningful discussion with Rawiri Waititi.  Again. I am interested in chatting about it - but it is not sensible for me to comment here.  Rawiri made some points I am interested in following up, but not as a solo writer. 

I'm also learning heaps by doing this writing - this clip is from YouTube.  AND - I am frustrated at having lost lots of typing because of ??? - always publish before scooting around??)

 I don't know if it is possible to find all the old clips on YouTube - possibly.

So What - this has been a big task - I will not repeat it - but it has been good for my learning, both about my views and about access to various place. 

I will post a notice for Zoom this coming week - and indicate that this has been written. 

               

The Hui - detail

 

Regarding The Hui (Point 3 above) - I am NOT recommending it to the political thread - the episode I referred to was half a political panel - and I found the rest of it really interesting - but basically, it does not have an election focus.  I will continue to watch - but from a Te Reo Plus focus). 

Points that arose for me from the panel interview on the above:   https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/08/experts-dissect-labour-s-other-major-parties-tax-policies.html

• Fabulous different viewpoints:  Emmy Rakete from People Against Prisons - Prof Matt Roskrudge, Assistant Dean Māori at Massey - Mani Dunlop, journalist and Commons Practitioner (What's that??) - Chaired by Julian Wilcox
• About the polls - is it all over? Lots can happen from here on in - despite disappointment about lack of significant policy around taxation - the non-voter is a problem (referred to as the "Nah" vote by Emmy) - Hipkins is a skilled politician.
  
• Lots of whanau do not think much about politics until the final three or four weeks. 
  
• There are lots of angry people for various reasons - and anger drives people toward the opposition, or not voting.
  

I don't expect many of you will watch this - but if you do - is it just me or is the conversation so fast it is hard to understand, especially Emmy?  I replayed sections in order to understand. 

____________________________________________________________________

For Te Reo Plus

However - other segments from The Hui gave very positive slants on developments in te Ao Māori .. and balanced out media stereotypes by presenting stories of success.

• The second segment this week was about fashion week - great - developing young talent, and celebrating Māori design. 
•  The week before ((27/08) had an investigative section which fascinated me - a miscarriage of justice around a road accident from 6 years ago 
• How's the film industry?  New CEO of the Film commission was interviewed:  
• Four of the five international best sellers have been Māori films - Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Once Were Warriors, Whalerider - and the fifth was the World's best Indian (a Southland story!).  There's scope for more.
• And the film industry is "micro-credentialing" youth so that they are able to access working in the industry  (previously folk needed to enrol in qualifications or have contacts - this did not attract diversity).  With micro-credentialing it is possible to work for a few days and get paid - think wardrobe, make- up, catering and more.  

One of my Te Reo Plus goals might be to keep an eye on The Hui. 

Ngā mihi

Elaine

Political thread - introductory email

Hi all

I have been grappling with the question of what to read/watch/view in relation to the coming elections -This note is to those who, I suspect, are interested in this thread.  I see it as part of a bigger thead (or strand) which is about civics.

The following are three thoughts ... we might start a conversation!

Ngā mihi

Elaine

 

(1) I am hoping we can clarify some ideas without involving those who are, frankly, not interested.  And that we can share some key ideas with all of 7+ and beyond.  So -

• Question - do you want to be an active part of this thread (which I see as sharing ideas as they arise or would you rather wait until we report more widely on our ideas (presumably by reporting on a thread to Zoom in 9 days time. 

I am not sure what the best tech tool is for this .. and want to play with ideas .. it could be a combination of email, blog, whatsapp group, document development in Google etc. .. please chat with me about this as it arises.  We are starting with just an email!

.........

(2) I've been grappling with what to watch and listen to .. (yes, I read stuff - and there could be articles we share BUT - I do NOT have time to watch/listen/read what others suggest. Yet I want good tips on what I am missing.  Here is where I am up to ...

I will stream the following if I cannot listen live and have missed recording them.  In each case, it is possible to view live and I have a recorder which can pick up both radio and Tv so I can get good volume and picture through my TV for all of these.   Commonly I watch recorded TV and radio - rather than stream. 

Now that parliament is no longer operating we have moved to a different phase.  The following are mainly focused on the election - but not exclusively. 

• Q and A with Jack Tame, TV1 Sunday 9am
• Newshub Nation, TV3 Sat am (and replayed Sun am)
• Caucus, RNZ - Sunday after 6pm news (3min or so) - this is recorded by four senior commentators on the preceding Thursday as a podcast. 
  
• Nine to Noon - RNZ - political commentators after the 11am news (this used to be called "From the Right and From the Left - and has been one of my favourites for years)
• The Hui - TV3 - this week's edition gets my high recommendation - I have not listened to it all, but I am interested in our comments on it. 
  

I like the idea of sharing what we watch BUT with a bit of why this particular episode is interesting.

• So .. a question - what have you watched/viewed/read lately that interests you - or gives you insight - in a way that is worth sharing - what I am trying to do in point 3 - is give an example of what would tempt me to also view something.

(3) My comment for today is that I have been recording The Hui, but not watching it.  In the interests of this email I started watching a few minutes ago.  The Hui covers things from a Māori perspective - the following was a helpful, reasoned overview of the political scene now - much calmer and less frenctic than others. Do you agree? 

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/08/experts-dissect-labour-s-other-major-parties-tax-policies.html

I plan to watch it properly later today and ping out an email about it to you. 

• Question - Do you have any comments or thoughts about any of the above (Kevin and Niki are still away - this thread might grow slowly!).