Anti-Smacking law needs a good beating

The official campaign has started for people to take part in the Citizens Initiated Referendum on Labour's anti-smacking law passed in 2007

The postal referendum runs from the 31st of July until the 21st of August and asks the question 'should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?' 

It is being held as a postal referendum this year because Prime Minister Helen Clark refused permission to have it during the 2008 General Election because she thought it would cost her votes.

It will cost New Zealander's more than $9 million as a result.

It sounds like John Key is against changing this facist law but it must be changed for the sake of our families and our kids.

They are in danger if the anti-smacking law is not repealed as it fosters out of control children and lack of personal responsibility.

c Political Animal 2009

Stock of the Week: Michael Hill International

In this Stock of the Week I am going to look at the multinational Jewelry retailer Michael Hill International [MHI.NZX]

Like every other business and especially retailers, Michael Hill is suffering somewhat from the economic downturn, its results to 31/12/08 that, but this company has a long history of good returns to shareholders and spectacular revenue and profit growth and the drop in profit will not last forever.

Over the last year or so the company has shifted its direction from a pure jewelry discounter to a more upmarket player, with its own branded watches and a range of luxury branded products, starting with Michael Hill Perfume.

Expansion from its present base of over 230 stores is on the cards with a goal of 1000 stores by 2020, the bulk of them being in North America, which kicked off in Canada a few years ago and entered mainland America at the end of 2008 when MHI purchased 17 stores in Illinois and Missouri from Whitehall Jewelers who were in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

Of course this is risky, there are many retailers that have washed up on the retail rocks in the land of the free because of unwise and unsustainable expansion, many of them in 2009, but Michael Hill's (the man and the company) expansion strategy up till now has been carefully calculated every step of the way and so far has paid off.

Canada has proven a tough nut to crack thus far but prospects were improving until the recession hit late 2008.

Michael Hill (the man) thinks this is a perfect time to expand and I am with him there - cheaper start-up costs makes for a good base to grow from and gives leeway to get through the tough times.

Which brings me to the share price. The stock hit a low of 45c earlier this year but has risen up to 69c market close on Friday. The stock has been as high as $1.25.

I am looking at buying more on share price dips, and they will come.

Good Luck!



Stock of the Week Series

Contact Energy Ltd
The Warehouse Group
Fisher & Paykel Appliances


Michael Hill International @ Share Investor

Hill Family makes Claytons Takeover bid for Michael Hill International
Michael Hill International Ltd: 2010 Full Year Profit Analysis
Long Term View: Michael Hill International Ltd
Michael Hill International: 2010 half year profit commentary
Michael Hill Makeover kicks off
Michael Hill International: 2009 full year profit commentary
Toughen Up: What I have learned from the hard times
Stock of the Week: Michael Hill International
Michael Hill TV3 60 Minutes Interview
Long VS Short: Michael Hill International
Marketwatch: Michael Hill International
Michael Hill's profit shines
Michael Hill takes on the windy city
Why did you buy that stock? [Michael Hill International]
MHI has defined growth strategy
MHI profit sparkles

Discuss MHI @ Share Investor Forum

Download MHI Company Reports


Recommended Amazon Reading


The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition) by Benjamin Graham
Buy new: $14.95 / Used from: $7.50
Usually ships in 24 hours




c Share Investor 2009

Mt Albert By-Election win a Turning Point in Labour Party Leadership

Congratulations to Labour's David Shearer for winning the Mt Albert By-Election by a landslide tonight.

He beat Melissa Lee from National, by a far larger majority than Helen Clark beat the National Candidate in the November 2008 General Election.

What does this tell us?

Well, it says that Shearer is a popular fellow, albeit in a safe seat a Labour party Monkey could win but what it also says is that Phil Goff's days as Labour Party leader are numbered.

With Helen Clark polling lower than Shearer and with Goff a part of Helen's old 2008 team the writing is on the wall for Goff. He was and is part of a dying Labour under Clark and now him and Shearer is its future.

The big win tonight really is the turning point for Goff's leadership and a grab for the top job cant be far off for Shearer and what will be his new team.

Goff simply cannot beat John Key in the 2011 General Election but after tonight Labour Party hierarchy will know for sure that David Shearer will have a much better chance.

Tonight's result has not been good for Phil Goff but it has been great for Labour's chances come 2011.

Related Amazon Reading

Transforming Leadership by James MacGregor Burns  Buy new: $10.88 / Used from: $6.34

c Political Animal 2009

LIVE: Mt Albert By Election Results - Final Results

Even though it might seem the results are a fait accompli, you can get Mt Albert Election day results here at Political Animal as they come in.

It aint over until the fat politician has his hands on your money.

By-Election Results -- Mt Albert (Final results)

Electorate Number: 26   Final: No Polling Places Counted: 30 of 30 (100.0%)   Votes Counted: 19,992 Less than 6 votes taken in Polling Places: 0   Special Votes: 1,114 Leading Candidate: SHEARER, David (LAB)   Majority: 9,187   Candidates BAGNALL, Jim IND   22 BAKER, Ari IND   15 BOSCAWEN, John ACT   943 BOYCE, Ben B&B   151 DYER, Simonne KIWI   85 FRANCE, Malcolm PBP   13 GREEN, Dakta ALCP   85 KANE, Rusty PCP   5 LEE, Melissa NAT   3,426 NORMAN, Russel GP   2,418 PISTORIUS, Julian LIB   35 SHEARER, David LAB   12,613 TURNER, Judy UFNZ   82 VAN DEN HEUVEL, Anthony Joseph James HR   14 WOOD, Jackson James IND   9 Candidate Informals   76 TOTAL   19,992

The Chief Electoral Office aims to have the official results for the 2009 Mt Albert by-election published here by noon Wednesday 24 June.

c Political Animal 2009