Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, December 11th, 2011 - 90 comments
This is for anyone who’s struggled to keep up with the Labour leadership contest, whether currently at the Auckland meeting or not.
Written By: - Date published: 7:09 am, December 6th, 2011 - 35 comments
Steven Joyce isn’t a big believer in democracy. He has overruled Treasury, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry for the Environment to make sure that the government keeps control of Auckland’s transport funds, and Auckland Transport is unaccountable to Aucklanders.
Written By: - Date published: 6:50 am, December 4th, 2011 - 194 comments
A tough decision for Labour looms – go for the gamble on the hero, or back the proven performer? (This post should have been on Friday night but got munched by Wordpress…)
Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, November 30th, 2011 - 47 comments
Labour would do well out of a long, positive leadership contest with all the contenders getting well-known by the country as they express their vision. If we can’t get Phil to stay, how about we have Annette hold the reigns as interim leader for the duration of the contest?
Written By: - Date published: 4:35 pm, November 28th, 2011 - 37 comments
In 2005 the UK Conservatives badly lost a third election in a row and their leader announced his intent to resign. But they organised a well-run contest to replace him, and by the time he won David Cameron had gone from unknown outsider to popular public figure, and the once ‘toxic’ Conservatives were electable again.
Written By: - Date published: 5:03 pm, May 11th, 2011 - 33 comments
Hone has done what he said he would and resigned, effective May 20. There will be a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau.
Written By: - Date published: 10:39 pm, March 26th, 2011 - 63 comments
The latest media frenzy about a Phil Goff coup is rapidly dying down. The Government passed some controversial legislation in double-quick time with little coverage and somebody made a killing on iPredict. Coincidence?
Written By: - Date published: 12:42 pm, March 21st, 2011 - 41 comments
There was already going to be too little money in Budget 2011 for maintenance of public services. Now what little there was is being further slashed in the name of Christchurch. An Earthquake Levy is not an option, rather we’ll all pay through increased borrowing and 25% cuts in services like police, transport, justice and social services.
Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, March 20th, 2011 - 67 comments
US, UK and French forces have begun attacks on government targets in Libya. French planes flew reconnaissance yesterday and fired the first shots today. They have destroyed a number of armoured vehicles and tanks. UK submarines have attacked air defence targets and their planes have fired missiles. In total US & UK forces have fired …
Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, March 13th, 2011 - 37 comments
Gerry Brownlee promised the West Coast a stimulus package. The government has now ruled that out. Those with whom John Key so public sympathised will not get what they were promised; they’ll be left to pick up the tab, whilst he works on his next PR opportunity.
Written By: - Date published: 7:17 am, March 12th, 2011 - 72 comments
National will reject Auckland Council and Aucklanders’ view on what their future city should look like. Instead they propose One ever more sprawling city, with ever more sprawling motorways, ever more cars clogging its veins, ever less community, and ever less government money.
Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, March 11th, 2011 - 10 comments
Last National government: split Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This National government: merge Agriculture and Fisheries. In times of economic recession and disaster National know the really important things to focus on. Just as long as they keep those civil servants busy and away from helping the public we’ll all be fine.
Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, March 10th, 2011 - 33 comments
Digested: the Reserve Bank cuts rates, the dollar weakens, oil prices rise and Sovereign Homes goes out of business.
Written By: - Date published: 6:35 am, March 10th, 2011 - 45 comments
National are to allow battery farming style early childhood education. From July the government will allow 75 stressed under-2 year-olds in one room, unable to form a relationship with any one teacher.
Written By: - Date published: 6:15 am, March 8th, 2011 - 40 comments
TVNZ7, and New Zealand public service television as a whole, looks to be coming to an end in June next year. TVNZ has been told their only responsibility is to return to the government a 9% return on investment per annum; their response is that they see pay-TV as their future. Sky is now “a frenemy”.
Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, March 4th, 2011 - 70 comments
New Zealand has won the rights to host the U20 Football World Cup in 2015.
Written By: - Date published: 12:25 pm, March 2nd, 2011 - 36 comments
Simon Power is not going to stand for re-election in November.
Written By: - Date published: 1:12 pm, February 28th, 2011 - 128 comments
Tapu Misa’s latest piece in the Herald is just so right I can’t really add anything to it. She nicely sums up the Welfare Working Group’s message: “We’re not saying it’s your fault you can’t get a job. We’re just saying you’re a malingering freeloader who’s not trying hard enough.”
Written By: - Date published: 3:21 pm, February 23rd, 2011 - 62 comments
Radio New Zealand are reporting that Hone Harawira and the Maori Party have decided to go their separate ways after the Maori Party disciplinary committee recommended he be thrown out. In a more peaceful resolution than the acrimony that has surrounded their dispute, they have decided that Hone can stick to Te Tai Tokerau, and …
Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, February 21st, 2011 - 23 comments
The Salvation Army has a Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit that comes out with some very well researched material. Their State of the Nation is compelling reading and their fear of the government’s welfare proposals coming out tomorrow speaks volumes.
Written By: - Date published: 10:41 pm, February 20th, 2011 - 4 comments
On a day when I’ve heard of 3 smaller businesses shutting down due to National’s economy, Big Business too is waking up to the flaws in National’s ways. The push through, don’t consult, override the wishes of the people mentality even chafes the corporates when it’s not in their favour.
Written By: - Date published: 3:40 pm, February 14th, 2011 - 34 comments
The Oz Job Expo was in Auckland this weekend, and 6000 people turned up and were willing to pay $15 to look for the job they couldn’t find in New Zealand. With much lower unemployment in Australia, job adverts way up since 2008 instead of way down here, and wages on average 30% higher, who could blame them?
Written By: - Date published: 12:36 pm, February 14th, 2011 - 36 comments
“I’m leaving it until my book. I know the answer, but just wait until my book,” Mr Key said.
What? I thought it was normal to leave office before you started writing and promoting your memoirs? I’ve not heard of someone becoming prime-minister to promote book-sales before.
Written By: - Date published: 7:14 am, February 14th, 2011 - 12 comments
John Key wants to take credit for Allan Bollard’s good work. The Reserve Bank is having to step outside its remit to save our economy from a National government and this is the thanks he gets…
Written By: - Date published: 10:11 pm, February 13th, 2011 - 5 comments
There’s a somewhat fact-free article today on the possible challenge of a new “centre-right” party in Epsom. Whilst an interesting possible development, there’s no substance as to who’s behind the party or any credentials. The most we get is that John Banks has heard a rumour. Presumably there’s more to the story, does anyone have …
Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, February 13th, 2011 - 26 comments
John Key, celebrity, has got PM on his CV. He’s met Obama and Peter Jackson, hung with Richie McCaw, the All Whites and David Letterman. And now sounds a bit bored with the gig. Is that what we need in someone who’s supposed to be leading the country to a brighter future?
Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, February 10th, 2011 - 40 comments
Jami-Lee Ross is running from having any debate with his opponent in the Botany.
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, February 10th, 2011 - 5 comments
8,000 more unemployed in Q4 2010, and 1,000 more on the dole in January; New Zealand headed to a douple-dip recession after a year of anaemic growth; an average wage rise in 2010 of 1.9% with inflation of 4%. And a government focussed on manipulating statistics instead of coming up with an economic plan.
Written By: - Date published: 3:41 pm, February 8th, 2011 - 63 comments
I get frustrated with the right claiming “Nanny State” on everything (except when it’s them banning cell-phones when driving etc). So it was with interest I read famous philosopher Alain de Botton’s piece on the BBC yesterday: In defence of the nanny state.
Written By: - Date published: 6:38 am, February 8th, 2011 - 77 comments
So John Key thinks that a 1.9% increase in pay will cover 4% inflation, and that’s all minimum wage workers are going to get. That 25c/hour won’t add up to a litre of milk at the end of the day, let along a block of cheese at the end of the week. A person on minimum wage will now get $437.24/week after tax, whilst JK gave himself over $1000 extra per week in tax cut.
Written By: - Date published: 2:33 pm, February 7th, 2011 - 61 comments
Hone has just been suspended from the Maori Party caucus. Pita and Tariana have had enough and they’re cutting him off in parliament – which surely can only be a prelude to him being cut off at party level as well.
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