The Standard

Open mike 28/10/2014

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 6:48 am, October 28th, 2014 - 167 comments

Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …

All Things Being Equal…

Written By: Bill
Date published: 1:46 pm, October 27th, 2014 - 173 comments

Assuming that all four contenders for leadership of Labour are equally worthy, there is a defining factor that ought to be considered…vulnerability to attack.

Save our tea breaks

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 7:49 am, October 27th, 2014 - 60 comments

Labour hopes to collect signatures for this petition over Labour Weekend…

Labour day – thank a unionist

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: 7:00 am, October 27th, 2014 - 72 comments

Today is a day to celebrate the rights hard won by workers and unions, past and present. There’s a reason it’s called “Labour Day” not “Free Market Day”…

Open mike 27/10/2014

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 7:00 am, October 27th, 2014 - 137 comments

Andrew Little’s Palmerston North Speech

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 2:18 pm, October 26th, 2014 - 38 comments

Video and the transcript of Andrew Little’s speech at the Palmerston North Labour Leadership meeting

Collective bargaining? Yeah right …

Written By: Guest post
Date published: 10:30 am, October 26th, 2014 - 11 comments

JAmooches continues their analysis of the effects of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill. Today the focus is on the provisions that negate the requirement for the parties to act in good faith bargaining, in particular for being able to conclude collective agreements.

NRT: National lets Shell drill illegally

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 10:28 am, October 26th, 2014 - 14 comments

Illegal drilling in our “Exclusive Economic Zone” gets let off with a “warning”.

I’m backing Grant

Written By: Ben Clark
Date published: 9:28 am, October 26th, 2014 - 175 comments

We have 4 great Leftie contenders, who all want to take Aotearoa where we want it to go. Whomever wins, I’ll back them to the hilt. But I have a vote and a voice, and I’m backing Grant – here’s why.

Open mike 26/10/2014

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 7:36 am, October 26th, 2014 - 93 comments

Is the Prime Minister in the House?

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 8:24 pm, October 25th, 2014 - 14 comments

Or is the leader of the National Party? Or a husband? Or a ‘private citizen’? Or a…

Have a coffee and a yarn with Andrew Little on Labour Day (Auckland)

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 3:48 pm, October 25th, 2014 - 17 comments

Servo Cafe, Te Atatu, 2:30 on Monday 27 October.

Poverty and the need to belong

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: 8:03 am, October 25th, 2014 - 37 comments

I’ve read a couple of thought-provoking accounts of poverty lately. There are common themes – issues that the political right, which can only see “the poor” as separate from “us”, will never understand and acknowledge.

Opposition to Nats’ attack grows

Written By: geoff
Date published: 7:53 am, October 25th, 2014 - 79 comments

Labour’s petition against National’s attack on Kiwi’s rights including the right to a break at work is growing like topsy with over 22,000 people signing up to it in the last day and a half.

Open mike 25/10/2014

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 7:28 am, October 25th, 2014 - 86 comments

NRT: Political interference at Maori Television

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 5:04 pm, October 24th, 2014 - 11 comments

A government-owned television channel arranges an interview with a former opposition MP, but the government-appointed CEO spikes it. Something from Russia or Cuba maybe? No – according to Hone Harawira its happening right here in New Zealand. National’s specially appointed CEO Paora Maxwell apparently personally doing the gagging of a previously independent Native Affairs show.

Weekend social 24/10/2014

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 2:00 pm, October 24th, 2014 - 21 comments

Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?

Auckland Labour Day Event

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: 12:05 pm, October 24th, 2014 - 14 comments

The Mangere Labour Electorate Committee is planning an interesting event on Labour Day in Auckland to commemorate the contributions of three different people to the Labour movement.

Five headed monster

Written By: Natwatch
Date published: 9:30 am, October 24th, 2014 - 56 comments

With all due respect to the five-headed monster, I think it’s time for a new version…

A encomium for Nanaia Mahuta

Written By: Guest post
Date published: 8:27 am, October 24th, 2014 - 62 comments

I know Nanaia reasonably well, having worked with her at a regional level in the Labour Party. Her level-headedness, the way she can grasp complex problems and find solutions, her ability to connect with everyone, her ability to stay positive and focused and to find a way through are skills that are desperately needed in the Party right now. [Updated]

Hager vs police – suppressing debate

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: 6:46 am, October 24th, 2014 - 71 comments

The police and Hager are in the process of initiating legal proceedings against each other. The police action against Hager was and is designed to intimidate, to suppress debate. Rod Oram calls shame on dirty politics and the people who perpetrate it.

Open mike 24/10/2014

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 6:45 am, October 24th, 2014 - 137 comments

Nanaia Mahuta’s email.

Written By: lprent
Date published: 9:20 pm, October 23rd, 2014 - 22 comments

Also in the email from a few days ago. As people will have observed I have been more notable by my absence than my presence in the last few days. But I finally found some time to read back in my email today. Weka particularly asked for this to be put up, and I see […]

Will Chris Trotter give up his table?

Written By: lprent
Date published: 9:05 pm, October 23rd, 2014 - 64 comments

For many decades Galbraiths has been a local watering hole for some of the unionists, academics, and commentariat on Friday night. I have been known to go along to ~~stir~~ participate in the ~~bemoaning~~ lofty debate and to spend a few coppers. David Parker is going to be there on Friday evening. I suspect I may have to go along to observe. 🙂

Save our tea breaks

Written By: notices and features
Date published: 2:50 pm, October 23rd, 2014 - 97 comments

Raising money for good works

Written By: lprent
Date published: 12:54 pm, October 23rd, 2014 - 15 comments

One of the features of recent weeks has been the remarkable success of the online fund raising to allow Nicky Hager required to challenge the police raid. My partner Lyn has similarly had success in raising money for her to transfer skills to charity workers in India. I am now resigned to living on my own for a time while she does good works elsewhere.