The Standard » same old national

David Parker’s Greece-proof paper

Ben Clark — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:05:20 +0000

Don't blame Greece: if you change nothing, nothing changes. National's problems are their own to solve, but they don't have the guts to look at the big problems in New Zealand's economy. 0.6% growth in total over the last 3 years - less than population. But National only tinkers and distracts, as our brightest and best head to Aussie.

Another MMP rort?

Mike Smith — Thu, 03 May 2012 23:50:58 +0000

The media are doing a good job investigating John Banks' donation history. The Police are presumably also doing theirs, and it seems clear that the matter must end up in Court and the issue of who is telling the truth will be decided by a judge. Some in the media have dismissed the question of any threat to National's majority. Short-term maybe, long-term I'm not so sure.

ImperatorFish: Government Moves To End Boat People Crisis

The Standard — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:28:31 +0000

Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here.

John Key comes up with a crisis.

Classy

James Henderson — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:49:20 +0000

What your ruling party got up to at its South Island Regional Conference. Michael Woddhouse, list MP and failed candidate for Dunedin South, speaking at a podium behind a toilet seat with Dunedin South MP Clare Curran's face attached. It's witty, too. That's what I like about it.

Collins’ in pokies for convention centre deal – in 2001

Eddie — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:55:43 +0000

The Herald's revealed that, in 2001, Judith Collins, as chair of the Casino Control Authority, rubber-stamped a 'pokies for convention centre' deal with SkyCity. This triggered the then Labour Government limit the number of pokies by statute. Now, the Nats are doing another dirty deal with the cancer in Auckland's heart but, thanks to Labour, they can't do it on the quiet.

Choices, choices: Farrar seeks parental leave funding

Zetetic — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:27:19 +0000

Last week, David Farrar demanded to know where the government is getting $62m for youth mental health services... Actually he didn't (they're stealing it from other health funding) but he is demanding Labour explains where it would get $125m a year for extending paid parental leave. I guess he just really wants to make sure it's feasible. Lets help him out with some options

Vetoing democracy

The Standard — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:19:12 +0000

Parliament is supposed to be the sovereign body in our government. So, how come the Executive has an unchallengeable power to veto any legislation it chooses? As I/S explains, the roots of the financial veto go back to when Parliament was a servant of the Crown, but its legislative justification has been repealed. Time to drop the archaic, undemocratic financial veto.

Choices, choices: parental leave too expensive?

Zetetic — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:40:45 +0000

The Rightwhingers are saying extending parental leave is too expensive. We're talking about a tiny sliver of government spending - 0.2% to be precise. And a tiny fraction of what the government is borrowing. If money is really so tight, there's plenty of poor quality decisions that National could reverse first.

Grubby politics

Anthony R0bins — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:32:29 +0000

Cronyism. The politicisation of the public service. Internal power struggles. It's all just grubby Nat politics as usual. Why do we put up with it?

Collins’ last stand

IrishBill — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 06:55:17 +0000

It looks like Collin's has got herself into a bind with her defamation case and Key's not gonna get her out.

And why would he? Her flailing offers an excellent distraction from the real PR damage of this dispute - the fact his government is only interested in looking after its mates.

Key people

IrishBill — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:02:04 +0000

The people named as Bronwyn Pullar's support team seem to be the same people that helped John Key into the National Party and then into the leadership.

Like they say - it's not what you know...

ImperatorFish: A Political Appointment To The Law Commission?

The Standard — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:38:52 +0000

Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here.

National appointing one of their own as member without any proper consultation - will people take the Law Commission seriously any more?

Ministry of National Significance?

Mike Smith — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:51:19 +0000

The trailers for John Key's Thursday speech are calling it for a " new super-Ministry" under the command of Steven Joyce. Merger isn't the issue - the policy direction is. If Joyce just stays focussed on roads of national significance, mines and oil wells of national significance, and casinos of national significance it will be another waste of time reshuffle. If it becomes genuinely high quality export focussed, then it may prove worthwhile. Fingers crossed.

NRT: Nats censoring the media

The Standard — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:02:05 +0000

I/S at NoRightTurn writes - Fresh from his attempt to censor programmes likely to embarrass the government during the election, National's hack on the NZ on Air board, Stephen McElrea, is now actually selecting the topics of political documentaries to receive NZ on Air funding. Its amazing how the topics chosen all just happen to align with the government's political agenda.

End of the holiday season on Morning Report

Rupert the Beer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:26:49 +0000

It was great to hear the familiar Morning Report tune this morning, signalling the end of the holiday season and, with it, an end to the popcorn journalism that Radio NZ has dished up since Christmas Eve. I don’t have any problem with National Radio’s summer line-up (in fact, Matinee Idle is radio gold), but ...