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The gun lobby fights back
Written By: - Date published: 12:27 pm, March 30th, 2019 - 16 comments
The Herald is reporting that Gun City the business that sold the military style semi automatic weapons to the Christchurch Mosque killer, has urged customers to sign a petition against banning military style semi automatic weapons.
Did Hanson’s One Nation Party seek funding from the NRA and the Koch Brothers?
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, March 27th, 2019 - 23 comments
Pauline Hanson’s One Australia party is trying to defend claims that it should funding to oppose gun restrictions from the NRA and the Koch Brothers by stating that its chief of staff was drunk.
WTF Free Speech coalition?
Written By: - Date published: 7:54 am, March 26th, 2019 - 564 comments
The Free Speech coalition has attacked the Chief Censor’s decision to rule the Christchurch Mosque killer’s manifesto as objectionable as an attack on free speech. But the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties has characterised the Censor’s decision as being entirely conventional.
National’s unfortunate misstatement about its migrant petition
Written By: - Date published: 10:51 am, March 19th, 2019 - 76 comments
National has been caught out in what is euphemistically called a misspeak about when it took its odious anti UN Migration pact petition down from its website. It said it was weeks before the Christchurch murders but it appears the petition was still live after the event.
Mike Hosking’s unusual take on the Christchurch massacre
Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, March 19th, 2019 - 137 comments
Mike Hosking has delivered an analysis of the Mosque murders that omits saying the massacre occurred in a mosque or that all the victims were of the Muslim faith or that the terrorist was a right wing extremist.
More political interference on Huawei
Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, March 13th, 2019 - 24 comments
Here’s another one for the select committee reviewing foreign interference. Visitor from Britain Charlie Parton of the Royal United Services Institute was on Morning Report this morning telling us to avoid Huawei because they are Chinese and different from us. At least he does us a favour by making it clear the matter is political not technical.
Simon Bridges is distancing himself from Simon Bridges
Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, March 13th, 2019 - 44 comments
Simon Bridges did the remarkable thing yesterday of distancing himself from his own party over events he had major involvement in.
Pretty Legal: SFO to Investigate Nat Donation
Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, March 12th, 2019 - 77 comments
NZ Police have confirmed that the Serious Fraud Office is investigating donations received by the National Party.
Magicked-Up Weapons
Written By: - Date published: 10:30 pm, March 11th, 2019 - 116 comments
I’m glad Anne-Marie Brady will get the chance to present her “Magic Weapons” paper to the select committee examining the last election. At long last it might get given some proper critical examination, of its content as well as it provenance. In my opinion it reads like a long list of the blindingly obvious, mixed with a large dose of conspiracy theory. It certainly doesn’t show much sign of the sort of critical thinking one might expect from an academic.
Landlord advocates threatening rent increases if Labour wins next election
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, March 11th, 2019 - 288 comments
A landlord has advocated that all landlords should threaten to increase tenant’s rentals if Labour wins the next election.
The tax debate – Dogwhistle time
Written By: - Date published: 8:07 am, March 7th, 2019 - 111 comments
National has resorted to race baiting in its attempt to denigrate the Tax Working Group’s proposed capital gains tax.
The Green’s electoral law reform petition
Written By: - Date published: 8:47 am, March 4th, 2019 - 389 comments
The Green Party’s launching of a petition to seek changes to the electoral system has met with some Trumpian style rhetoric from the right.
Lies damn lies and tax analysis
Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, March 2nd, 2019 - 67 comments
National’s claim that a capital gains tax would reduce the value of an average worker’s Kiwisaver account by $64,000 over a 45 year working life seems to be as valid as Steven Joyce’s claim there was an $11.5 billion dollar hole in Labour’s draft budget.
Simon Bridges’ twitter game
Written By: - Date published: 2:51 pm, March 1st, 2019 - 39 comments
Why is Simon Bridges’ twitter account liking and retweeting his own tweets?
Brownlee forced to withdraw ad with fake data
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, February 28th, 2019 - 32 comments
Gerry Brownlee has been obliged to withdraw a Facebook ad about tax bracket creep after it was discovered he had used grossly overinflated figures.
Tamihere has some strange friends
Written By: - Date published: 8:02 am, February 26th, 2019 - 20 comments
John Tamihere has been endorsed by Jordan Williams for Auckland’s mayoralty. And his campaign has commissioned the Taxpayers Union to do a cost cutting exercise.
Spare a thought for our poor impoverished landlords
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, February 25th, 2019 - 225 comments
Spare a thought for poor landlords who are aghast at the thought that they should have to share capital gains on properties they have purchased with no intent of making a capital gain.
Walls and Bridges
Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, February 16th, 2019 - 54 comments
It’s been a horror week for two leaders and a leader who will never be leader.
TRP casts a wary and weary eye over three political zombies whose time appears up.
And, oh, Jeremy Corbyn.
Can Sexism Save Simon’s Bacon?
Written By: - Date published: 9:26 pm, February 13th, 2019 - 115 comments
National Party in dick pick SHOCKER!!!
Yes, Simple Simon reveals his saucy side as he SHOWS US HIS SAUSAGE.
But is anyone biting?
The leader has my full support
Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, February 13th, 2019 - 44 comments
National’s message discipline on support for Leader Simon Bridges is strangely missing.
Should We Fear Judith Collins?
Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, February 12th, 2019 - 130 comments
So, it turns out Simon’s a dud. What do the Tories do about it? And can Judith Collins really make a difference?
Sheepgate the final chapter
Written By: - Date published: 7:38 am, February 12th, 2019 - 44 comments
The final chapter of the Saudi Sheepgate saga has now been written with David Parker pulling the pin on the deal and saving the country $1 million.
Simon Bridges twitter game
Written By: - Date published: 2:40 pm, February 11th, 2019 - 27 comments
Simon Bridges’ twitter account has been tweeting about unusual subjects lately.
What does the right have against Venezuela?
Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, February 9th, 2019 - 131 comments
Simon Bridges has claimed that the Government is going to follow a “Venezuela model” in making much needed reform of the Polytechnic sector. But no one knows what he means.
Trump restarts Nuclear Arms race
Written By: - Date published: 7:55 am, February 8th, 2019 - 58 comments
Donald Trump has announced that the US will be withdrawing from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and Russia has also given notice. Stand by as the nuclear arms race restarts.
The Meathead tax
Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, February 2nd, 2019 - 85 comments
National’s claim that the Government wants to impose a meat tax suffers from the reality that the Government has done no such thing and the proposal comes from an International collective of academics.
Show us the money Simon
Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, January 31st, 2019 - 82 comments
Hopefully the media will ask of National the tough questions, like how it is going to increase spending in critical areas, pay down debt and give us a tax cut at the same time.
A detailed analysis of Simon Bridges’ state of the nation speech
Written By: - Date published: 4:59 pm, January 30th, 2019 - 88 comments
As a public service the writers of the Standard provides you with this in depth analysis of the contents of Simon Bridges’ state of the nation speech delivered this afternoon.
The Blue Green oxymoron
Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, January 28th, 2019 - 252 comments
National appears to be well advanced in the formation of a new puppet party, one with an environmental theme that will present a challenge to the Green Party.
Taxpayers Union receives funding from British American Tobacco
Written By: - Date published: 7:36 am, January 25th, 2019 - 39 comments
Sam Sachdeva at Newsroom has connfirmed that the Taxpayer’s Union (*not a real union) has received funding from British American Tobacco.
Karma Cameleon
Written By: - Date published: 2:40 pm, January 21st, 2019 - 120 comments
Cameron Slater is seriously ill. The Whale Oil blog will carry on without him, but in the meantime, Cam is asking for help.
- Maths teaching fails pupils by ignoring cognitive science findings
Opinion: In the arena of educational policy, where decisions shape the future of our students, the plight of mathematics education in New Zealand has become a drawn-out match of political football. As head of the mathematics education unit in the mathematics department at the University of Auckland, I’ve spent ...1 week ago - Doomed bill not the end of fight for right to sustainable environment – ShawLegislation that would add the right to a sustainable environment to the Bill of Rights Act is expected to be voted down by the Government The post Doomed bill not the end of fight for right to sustainable environment – Shaw appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Who will now investigate the case of Billy Guyton?Opinion: The beleaguered Sunday covered a rugby scandal in the making – who will ask those questions if it is shut down? The post Who will now investigate the case of Billy Guyton? appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Daily crossword, Wednesday 10 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Wednesday 10 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Steel survivor returns with Ferns in sightsReinga Bloxham is a dab hand at flipping hundreds of whitebait fritters in her parent’s yard, never afraid to muck in. She has the performance guru of the San Diego Padres baseball team on speed dial, always keen to get advice from outside the box. She’s kept precious notes in ...1 week ago
- When it comes to rates bills, the only way is upCouncils are calling for constitutional change over high-rising rates bills. By the look of draft council long-term plans across the country, ratepayers are in for an average rise of 15.3 percent – the highest in more than 35 years. “Over my time in council, so since 2010, most councils like ...1 week ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 10 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 10 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Eyes in the sky could bolster infrastructure resilienceMBIE funding has brought an EY space tech expert from overseas to sell greater use of satellite surveillance to the public and private sector The post Eyes in the sky could bolster infrastructure resilience appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- NZDF Personnel Commemorate Sinking Of HMNZS Moa In Solomon Islands
New Zealanders have gathered for a moment of reflection in Solomon Islands to commemorate the Second World War sinking of HMNZS Moa in Tulagi Harbour. <img src="https://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/2404/b42d0a3900f4388dda7b.jpeg" width="720" height="491"> Personnel from three New Zealand ...2 weeks ago - KASM Taking Complaint Over Seabed Miner Misleading Australia’s ASXKiwis Against Seabed Mining, Inc. (KASM) is lodging a complaint to the Australian Securities Investment Commission about the seabed mining company Tran Tasman Resources’ parent company Manuka Resources Ltd for misleading the ASX. "That TTR's owner ...2 weeks ago
- New Campaign Confronts Culture Of Silence On Abuse, Empowering Children To Speak OutA new campaign designed to empower the "brave voices" of children by encouraging them to speak out and find help if they experience abuse will launch today. Supported by Life Education Trust , Save the Children , and Women’s Refuge , the campaign ...2 weeks ago
- Huia Publishers wins big at Bologna
New Zealand’s leading indigenous publishers have been recognised for their excellence on the world stage at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Huia Publishers have won the Bologna Prize for the Best Children’s Publishers of the Year, Oceania, at Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy – one of the biggest ...2 weeks ago - Who are the home cooks heading to My Kitchen Rules NZ this year?Another year, another group of brave New Zealanders opening up their homes to Colin and Manu. My Kitchen Rules New Zealand is back for another year, which means another horde of home cooks will be welcoming a group of total strangers to attend a dinner party like no other. Move ...2 weeks ago
- Press Release From New Zealand Asian LawyersNew Zealand Asian Lawyers is pleased to announce the establishment of a panel to assist the New Zealand courts by applying to intervene in cases of wider public interest where Asian parties are concerned. The panel will recommend that New Zealand Asian ...2 weeks ago
- NEW POLL: More Bad News For Centre-Right As Government Parties Drop In SupportNational is down on last month to 37.1% (-0.3 points) while Labour is up slightly to 25.7% (+0.4 points). The Greens take third place on 14.6% (+3.3 points) while ACT drops back to 7.2% (-2.8 points). The smaller parties are NZ First on 6.3% (-1.1 ...2 weeks ago
- Watch: The last days of motorsport at Pukekohe Park RacewayIn the months leading to the closure of the Pukekohe Park Raceway, the father and daughter duo managing the grassroots racecourse want to give everyone one last chance to go fast. For Gary Stirling, circuit manager, the closure is “fucking gutting” even though “it’s just silly, it’s a paddock with ...2 weeks ago
- Trailer: Farewell to the Pukekohe Park Raceway | Trailer | The SpinoffAfter 60 years of racing, motorsport enthusiasts say goodbye to the Pukekohe Park Raceway in a series of lasts – last track day, last classic festival, last motorcycle day, last surprise engagement, last day ever – as the raceway nears its closure. Full documentary out April 16. Made with the ...2 weeks ago
- Street smart: Janette Sadik-Khan wants New Zealand to embrace the urban revolutionThe former New York transit commissioner revolutionised cycling and walking in her city – now she wants New Zealand to do the same. If you haven’t heard of Janette Sadik-Khan, the people running your city definitely have. The former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation was ...2 weeks ago
- Shifting Focus From Race To Culture: Preserving Trust With Indigenous CommunitiesIn an attempt to dispel any intention of racism, I am writing this op/ed to help move the dial from a focus on race, to a focus on cultural norms and sensitivities. ...2 weeks ago
- Another Dark Day For Science And Climate – 90 Jobs To Go At NIWANIWA, one of New Zealand’s leading climate research agencies, is set to lose up to 90 jobs, at a time when our climate crisis is worsening. "This is utter madness at this critical time for New Zealand," said Duane Leo, National Secretary for ...2 weeks ago
- Let everyone wear shorts for sportsWith gymnasts now allowed to wear shorts while competing, Gabi Lardies wonders why other codes are still catching up. Last week, Gymnastics New Zealand announced an overhaul of its competition attire rules. Now, people that are very good at jumping through the air while doing the splits are allowed to ...2 weeks ago
- Comments About Ethnic ‘priority’ For Surgical Waitlists Ruled Misleading And DiscriminatoryComments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. The Authority has upheld a complaint ...2 weeks ago
- Suicide Prevention Office Debacle – Parents Of Nicky Stevens Say Ministry Will 'have Bloo...The parents of Nicky Stevens, a victim of suicide in 2015, have slammed Te Whatu Ora/The Ministry of Health for its proposal to disestablish the Suicide Prevention Office as part of its Government-mandated cuts to health services. “Both the Ministry ...2 weeks ago
- The cost of being: A single parent with dreams of building generational wealthAs part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a mum of one looks far into the financial future. Gender: Female Age: 49 Ethnicity: Pākeha Role: Single parent of 1x child, in full-time employment as a producer. Salary/income/assets: $160,000 salary p/a plus employer KiwiSaver payments , ...2 weeks ago
- Four key questions ahead of two massive days for news media in New ZealandOver the next 48 hours, hundreds of journalists across both of New Zealand’s major TV news services will learn their fates. Duncan Greive outlines what’s at stake, and looks at an idea about a post-Newshub news service for Three. What is happening at TVNZ today? In early March, a press ...2 weeks ago
- The government’s nine big goals for 2030Prime minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged the public service targets were ambitious and made no apologies for leaning into his background as a CEO, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. No apologies for ...2 weeks ago
- UN Human Rights Expert To Shine Global Spotlight On Nelson TenthsOn Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Mr Francisco Calí Tzay, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, will visit Nelson to learn about the Nelson Tenths and the ongoing litigation against the Crown. ...2 weeks ago
- MPs Must Not Take Pay Hike While Kiwis Go BackwardsThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling on MPs to put their money where their mouths are and implement a pay freeze rather than accept a taxpayer-funded pay hike at a time when many families are going backwards. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor ...2 weeks ago
- Government KPIs Show Progress But Lack AmbitionResponding to the release of nine Government key performance targets to be achieved by 2030, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Kiwis won’t need reminding that despite public spending jumping 84% since 2017, ...2 weeks ago
- Step up to the redundancy rollercoasterIf you’re one of the thousands being sacked across the public service and the media, here’s some helpful tips from Asher Wilson-Goldman, who’s just been through it. Every day seems to bring another announcement. 300 jobs at Newshub. 134 at the Ministry of Health. 68 at TVNZ. A mammoth 384 ...2 weeks ago
- RNZ, Whakaata Māori, PMN, NZ on Air and NZ Film Commission leaders weigh in on media crisisAbove the Fold: as two of our biggest media organisations face radical downsizing, Duncan Greive asks our media leaders what’s going on, and what can be done about it. First up: the leaders of our publicly-funded media organisations, and the funders themselves. This is part two of Above the Fold: ...2 weeks ago
- Have Your Say – How Can Aotearoa New Zealand Best Tackle Greenhouse Gases?From today [Monday 8 April] He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission is running an 8-week public consultation to help it develop advice to the Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Myanmar Community Leading Rally At Parliament In Opposition To Junta VisitLocal Myanmar community organisations are leading a rally at Parliament in opposition to the Myanmar military junta joining the ASEAN-NZ Dialogue meeting scheduled for 18-19 April in Wellington. ...2 weeks ago
- Fast-track Won’t Mean Easy Ride For Seabed Miners – GreenpeaceIf it goes ahead, the fast-track approval process will enable TTR to proceed with its destructive seabed mining project despite repeated legal defeats and the opposition of Ngāti Ruanui, environment groups, scientists, fishing companies and the local ...2 weeks ago
- Dunne's Weekly: Taiwan Earthquake A Wake-Up Call For New ZealandTaiwan and New Zealand are two small island states with much in common. Both are vibrant, independent democracies, living in the shadow of an overbearing neighbour. (Admittedly, Taiwan’s overbearing neighbour has far more aggressive tendencies ...2 weeks ago
- Our Intentions: Cyber Security Governance In Public OrganisationsWe have published some information about work we are carrying out to examine whether cyber security risks are governed effectively in selected public organisations. This work was signalled in our 2023/24 annual plan . Effective cyber security is essential ...2 weeks ago
- Kahungunu Iwi Condemns Weekend ViolenceNgāti Kahungunu Iwi Chair, Bayden Barber has condemned the shooting that took place after a rugby game between Tamatea and the Young Māori Party (YMP) over the weekend, “This sort of behaviour has no place in our community. Our sports ...2 weeks ago
- Green List Changes Disrespectful And Ignorant – MTAThe Government’s axing of key automotive roles from the immigration Green List is a shock and an insult to the collision repair industry, the Motor Trade Association (MTA) says. The Minister of Immigration announced yesterday that the roles of Panel ...2 weeks ago
- Revealed: Callaghan Innovation Wastes Over $170,000 On Rebrand As Staff Call Out Job Cuts.The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Callaghan Innovation has blown $170,000 on a rebranding exercise at a time when taxpayer-funded agencies were being told to curb spending. Information obtained under the Official Information Act reveals that ...2 weeks ago
- Personal Grievance Filed Against IRD For Suppressing Employee’s SpeechThe Free Speech Union has supported a member in filing a personal grievance against IRD with the Employment Relations Authority after an employee was threatened with disciplinary action for sharing particular opinions in a social media chat, says ...2 weeks ago
- Now Tax Cuts Put Ahead Of Climate – Jobs To Go At Environment MinistryJob losses at the Ministry for the Environment to meet the Government’s cost cutting drive risks New Zealand’s ability to manage our many environmental challenges. Today the Ministry for the Environment called for voluntary redundancies across the ...2 weeks ago
- New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this weekWe round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love dark local drama: Testify (TVNZ+, April 8) Vinnie Bennett (centre) stars in new local drama Testify (Photo: TVNZ) TVNZ’s new drama Testify follows a rich and ...2 weeks ago
- Happy birthday, ACC. Now can we all join the party?It’s been 50 years since ACC was founded, and thousands of disabled people are still waiting for the coverage they were promised. On Easter Monday, New Zealand quietly marked a half a century of the Accident Compensation Corporation. Three and a half million New Zealanders have not experienced life in ...2 weeks ago
- Meet the ‘health sensation’ scouting Wellington’s best cheap CBD lunchesWith a fast-growing TikTok and Instagram following, food blogger Bryer Oden is serving up a delicious ode to Wellington’s food scene – all while embodying a genuinely healthy attitude towards food and eating. Filming meals during the lunch break at her marketing job, Bryer edits her food vlogs every day ...2 weeks ago
- Will tax cuts make up for the end of cheap public transport?When the half price and free fares for millions of New Zealanders end next month, will your tax savings really make up for it? The National-led coalition government has a strong focus on putting money in people’s pockets. During the election campaign, National launched a “back pocket boost” tax calculator, ...2 weeks ago
- Growing number of homeowners falling behind on their mortgageBanks are seeing a big rise in mortgage arrears, and some analysts believe it could force the Reserve Bank to rethink its OCR position – just not this week, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each ...2 weeks ago
- What happens when you ask 20 NZ media CEOs two very pointed questions?Newshub and TVNZ are only the most visible examples of the polycrisis impacting New Zealand’s media. Duncan Greive set out to diagnose the problem, and maybe figure out some cures, by asking media CEOs a couple of big questions. This is an introduction to Above the Fold: a Media Meltdown ...2 weeks ago
- The Christopher Luxon dictionary of corporate speakAn operationalised, strategically aligned, actionable guide to the phraseology of prime minister Christopher Luxon. The prime minister loves business jargon. Luxon’s 36-point action plan is full of pledges to “take decisions” and “raise the energy”. But his media team is slowly beating that instinct out of him, and it’s a ...2 weeks ago
- ‘He’s finally done it’: David Hill on the high school essay that made him a writerHow a 17-year-old dreaming of nothing more than a round of applause at assembly started ‘chucking down a load of crap’, and ended up finding his calling. It’s 65 years back. I’m in my final year at Napier Boys’ High, and I’m about to earn my first money from writing. ...2 weeks ago
- Can we keep the faith with TVNZ’s new local drama Testify?Sins and sinners abound in the big budget series about the secrets and lies behind an evangelical megachurch – but does the show deliver? This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. David Jacobson is standing in the toilet of a queer nightclub, looking ...2 weeks ago
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