Author Archive
The hottest year
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, November 17th, 2016 - 40 comments
As 2016 lines up for its place in the record books – what if every year from now is the hottest year ever?
Trump and the NZ housing bubble
Written By: - Date published: 7:26 am, November 16th, 2016 - 21 comments
The bright orange trigger for a sharp rise in mortgage interest rates may have just arrived. Our over-indebted home owners are highly vulnerable.
Quakes and other emergencies
Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, November 15th, 2016 - 23 comments
Update: Chaos in Wellington – check the news…
It’s times like this you appreciate our emergency response systems. Huge thanks to everyone who has worked / is working to keep others safe, supplied, informed.
South Island quake
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 am, November 14th, 2016 - 115 comments
A night of quakes.
Beach and shore warning (original major Tsunami warning is over).
Wellington recommends avoid CBD today (all trains cancelled).
Scholarship exams today are postponed, NCEA exams proceeding where possible – official link.
An interesting time for the Republicans
Written By: - Date published: 8:08 am, November 13th, 2016 - 55 comments
Trump is going to be a figurehead, not a president, leaving governance to an unfettered Republican machine. That machine is no friend of the disenfranchised, never was, never will be. How will Trump’s base react to being betrayed?
Rheumatic fever – treat the cause
Written By: - Date published: 8:02 am, November 8th, 2016 - 14 comments
Millions of dollars are being poured into reducing rheumatic fever in NZ. However rates of the disease in Auckland are at least double the target level – and rising.
Good coverage for Labour’s conference
Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, November 7th, 2016 - 21 comments
Good coverage for Labour’s conference, Little’s speech, and the “substantial investigation into the Future of Work”.
John Key’s Paradise
Written By: - Date published: 9:02 am, November 6th, 2016 - 83 comments
This really happened. Contains crimes against music, dance, fashion, and irony. Also some recent headlines from “John Key’s Paradise”…
Paris agreement in force – now what?
Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, November 5th, 2016 - 13 comments
The Paris agreement is now in force. NZ is committed to reducing its emissions. What, specifically, is this governments plan for doing so? How does support for continued coal mining and oil exploration, the use of phony carbon credits and the like, fit in with reducing emissions?
Be afraid!
Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, November 4th, 2016 - 19 comments
Reports of an unconvincing “domestic terrorism” plot, and of further illegal GCSB spying.
Post-truth post-ethics
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, November 3rd, 2016 - 90 comments
The McCully / Sheepgate thing is just the latest in a long line of “morally flexible” Nat fiascos. In a world where truth or ethical standards mattered this government would have ended long ago.
Unemployment apples and oranges
Written By: - Date published: 1:11 pm, November 2nd, 2016 - 27 comments
A fall in the jobless rate is superficially good news, but most of the “fall” since May is due to changes in the way the measure is calculated. Wages remain flat, though less so for union members.
Nats backsliding on tax haven law changes
Written By: - Date published: 7:54 am, November 1st, 2016 - 20 comments
The Nats are backsliding on implementing the law changes brought on by the Panama Papers revelations. If European regulators blacklist us the consequences will be catastrophic.
Workers’ rights – the Uber ruling
Written By: - Date published: 8:26 am, October 30th, 2016 - 34 comments
Recent decision in the UK is a victory for workers and their rights.
Marine reserves and marine disasters
Written By: - Date published: 10:13 am, October 29th, 2016 - 6 comments
Credit where it is due for the success of the Ross Sea marine reserve. Now how about action where it is needed in our own waters?
Water quality too important for bird-brained excuses
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, September 1st, 2016 - 59 comments
Nick Smith’s latest excuse for inaction on water quality is birds. Yes birds. You couldn’t make this shit up.
For a dose of blessed sanity, watch the (10 min) webcast by Dr Mike Joy explaining what the real problem is.
Mt Roskill by election – cooperating parties cooperate shock!
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 31st, 2016 - 96 comments
If Phil Goff wins the Auckland mayoralty there will be a by-election in Mt Roskill. Building on their MOU, Labour and the Greens may cooperate. Good!
Nats cut police resources then demand the impossible
Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, August 30th, 2016 - 46 comments
We have had years of systematic under funding of the police and front-line numbers are falling. None the less police are now expected to attend every burglary. For the sake of this exercise in public perception other areas of police wrok will suffer.
Land banking – National gives up on housing crisis
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 29th, 2016 - 29 comments
As the average Auckland house price hits $1 Million, the Special Housing Areas fail, and Real Estate agents openly promote land banking, what does National do? Why, they give up, of course.
Hollowing out the regions
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, August 28th, 2016 - 44 comments
The closure of 19 mostly rural Westpac branches is indicative of the ongoing hollowing out the regions. Neglecting Northland cost the Nats the last by election. Neglecting regional NZ as a whole might cost them the next general.
Nick Smith commits to raising average wage to $250,000
Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, August 27th, 2016 - 37 comments
Great news everyone! On The Nation this morning Nick Smith committed to raising average NZ wage to $250,000!
Homeless crisis – Nats in full denial
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, August 26th, 2016 - 82 comments
New research on homelessness from Otago University sheds light on the depth and breadth of the problem. Naturally Paula Bennett says she doesn’t believe it, and that she won’t read it. Because of course.
Key vs science on water quality
Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, August 24th, 2016 - 60 comments
Nats push stupidest education plan ever
Written By: - Date published: 2:26 pm, August 23rd, 2016 - 218 comments
It’s not April 1st, so I’m forced to conclude that this is a genuine announcement: Students to learn online from home instead of at school under major education reform.
The cross-party inquiry into homelessness is under way
Written By: - Date published: 1:04 pm, August 22nd, 2016 - 48 comments
After National blocked a proposed official inquiry into homelessness, Labour, The Greens and The Maori Party went ahead with their own. It will no doubt come up with useful recommendations. But to see them implemented we will need to change the government.
Racism, middle NZ and Māori
Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, August 22nd, 2016 - 141 comments
In seeking to understand and remedy racism in NZ we should start with the actions of governments and leaders, not with the words of blowhard media constructs.
America bails on private prisons
Written By: - Date published: 3:49 pm, August 19th, 2016 - 19 comments
America is bailing on private prisons because they don’t work. What’s the bet that National is ‘too proud and arrogant’ to follow suit.
Tents warehouses and driveways
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 19th, 2016 - 64 comments
Tents and warehouses have been considered as emergency housing. Working people sleeping in cars are looking for driveways to rent. Say – has anyone seen John Key lately?
Interest free student loans – still safe for now?
Written By: - Date published: 10:05 am, August 18th, 2016 - 58 comments
A right wing “think-tank” wants to load students up with even more debt.
UNICEF call for action on NZ poverty
Written By: - Date published: 7:08 am, August 18th, 2016 - 165 comments
Once again this country under National is rightly shamed in the international media.
Affordable housing fail – we can’t rely on the private sector
Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, August 17th, 2016 - 55 comments
To the complete surprise of no one, private sector developers have largely waited out the “affordable houses” requirement in the special housing areas. Another National failure.
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