Archive for August, 2013

GCSB diversions and won’t anyone think of the kids?

Written By: - Date published: 9:26 am, August 13th, 2013 - 18 comments

John Key Nat Billboard Corproate voteWhen National is on the defensive it engages in acts of mass diversion.  So under further pressure about its GCSB reforms it plans an increase in Ministerial Inquiry powers that would have Andrea Vance worried, and it is proposing that people acquitted of offences involving children are nevertheless subject to draconian restrictions on their liberty.

Nat housing policy panned

Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, August 13th, 2013 - 31 comments

Labour and The Greens are clearly setting the agenda with a strong focus on housing affordability. National are struggling to catch up. But their new policy has been met with a chorus of criticism. They are going to have to do a lot better than this.

Open mike 13/08/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 13th, 2013 - 144 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

John Key – in contempt

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 pm, August 12th, 2013 - 71 comments

John Key shows contempt for New Zealanders and democracy in refusing to talk about the GCSB Bill and saying New Zealanders care more about snapper quotas. Campbell Live discovers some Kiwis are well informed and have views on the GCSB Bill.

National’s “housing policy” is to reverse its previous cuts

Written By: - Date published: 4:25 pm, August 12th, 2013 - 19 comments

not-welcome

Selling your privacy

Written By: - Date published: 4:07 pm, August 12th, 2013 - 16 comments

Good piece by David Fisher on selling your privacy. Don’t worry citizens consumers, it’s nothing personal. It’s just business.

This is/is not democracy

Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, August 12th, 2013 - 106 comments

The Nats’ PR-managed conference stifled democratic debate & bright ideas, and diverted from significant issues.  Armstrong attempts to talk it up, while exposing Key’s win-at-all-costs ruthlessness. Meanwhile: speakers announced for democratic meeting to Kill the GCSB Bill [Updated – Hagar also speaking]. [Update: Gordon Campbell – ‘Nanny National‘]

Shearer slams Key on Edwards parole release (not)

Written By: - Date published: 11:25 am, August 12th, 2013 - 17 comments

That’s a headline that you won’t see. Because politicising the crimes committed by those released on parole is low politics indeed. Isn’t that right, Mr Key?

The Failed Estate – An Australian Blog to follow

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, August 12th, 2013 - 10 comments

Rupert murdoch puppet masterWith Australian elections just around the corner quality Australian political blogs will be in demand.  If you want to read a refreshingly progressive and sophisticated analysis of Australian Politics I recommend Jim Parker’s blog Failed Estate.  He writes with precision on issues such as the state of Australia’s media, the undermining of Julia Gillard, and the festering sore that is the boat people issue.

Nats’ affordable housing policy: for the 70-80th percentiles

Written By: - Date published: 6:56 am, August 12th, 2013 - 142 comments

So, let me see if I have this right: National’s big announcement on affordable housing was the increase the income and house price limits for getting the Kiwisaver First Home Deposit Subsidy. In other words, pour more money into the over-heated housing market. And do that by giving cash to people previously considered too well-off for the subsidy.

Open mike 12/08/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 12th, 2013 - 90 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Key needs to get real on Fonterra crisis

Written By: - Date published: 12:11 pm, August 11th, 2013 - 128 comments

The Fonterra fiasco is turning into a genuine crisis and a huge risk to our economy. John Key needs to stop playing politics and get real. It’s urgent.

Employment Relations Authority backs Air NZ prima nocta policy

Written By: - Date published: 10:49 am, August 11th, 2013 - 36 comments

Following a successful application to access a sacked employee’s bank statements, Air New Zealand has had its right to insert a prima nocta clause into all of its employment agreements backed by the Employment Relations Authority.

National attacks environmental protection … again …

Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, August 11th, 2013 - 23 comments

John Key sold environmentNational has announced further changes to the Resource Management Act.  Predictably the proposals are designed to allow the Government to say that it is doing something about affordable housing but in reality they will, if enacted, further undermine and damage existing environmental protection.

1938 13

Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, August 11th, 2013 - 5 comments

A Sunday feature – each week a random section scanned from a copy of The Standard, September 15th, 1938. Find out more here.

Open mike 11/08/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 11th, 2013 - 154 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

How times change

Written By: - Date published: 5:01 pm, August 10th, 2013 - 36 comments

nixon-resigned

Sexism

Written By: - Date published: 2:51 pm, August 10th, 2013 - 68 comments

My colleague Eddie had a go at Phil Goff this morning for dickish remarks, and fair enough too. But in the interests of keeping things in perspective, just a reminder as to which is the sexist party here…

Armstrong on National’s conference

Written By: - Date published: 1:33 pm, August 10th, 2013 - 33 comments

The Herald’s John Armstrong on Key’s “outrageous pragmatism”, National’s “great leap backwards”, and their “over-choreographed” Conference…

Hands-on National

Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, August 10th, 2013 - 19 comments

It doesn’t suit the Labour Party narrative – and indeed it’s not their espoused philosophy – but every now and then National can’t help but be “hands on”. We’ve had the South Canterbury Finances in the past (won’t somebody think of the shareholders!), but this week was a real doozy for it, between Fonterra, Tiwai Point and Chorus.

What a dick

Written By: - Date published: 7:54 am, August 10th, 2013 - 128 comments

The stupidity of Phil Goff’s misogynist taunting of Chris Finlayson has been compounded by his refusal to apologise.

Poverty Watch 43

Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, August 10th, 2013 - 7 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. Last week CPAG published a report on the links between poverty and child abuse, and why current government policy is misguided. So what did the first part of the report have to say?

Open mike 10/08/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 10th, 2013 - 168 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Fill the Hall – Kill the Bill

Written By: - Date published: 7:35 pm, August 9th, 2013 - 51 comments

fill-the-hallNote also that Campbell Live/3 News is running a major poll on the Bill.

Key called again on bullying tactics

Written By: - Date published: 5:14 pm, August 9th, 2013 - 43 comments

John Key is a bully who uses the powers of his office inappropriately. Every now and then someone calls him on it – Mike Joy, Jon Stephenson, Andrea Vance and Bradley Ambrose being examples. Now it is the turn of Law Society member Rodney Harrison QC to stand up.

Weekend social 09/08/2013

Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, August 9th, 2013 - 13 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?

Work – its precarious

Written By: - Date published: 10:51 am, August 9th, 2013 - 50 comments

The Governments attack on workers pay seems even more nasty given the stats released this week that show wages stagnating as prices increase especially those prices that workers spend their money on – housing, power, food etc. But the changes to the ERA going through the house will also increase insecurity. I spent Wednesday and […]

Fonterra scandal and deregulation

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, August 9th, 2013 - 72 comments

Stuff’s Pattrick Smellie makes the case that the Fonterra scandal is a product of deregulation. The lesson here is that Mike Joy and other scientists are right. To protect its environment, its brand, its exports and its economy, NZ needs to strengthen regulatory protections and clean up its act.

Market not impressed with $30 Million payout

Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, August 9th, 2013 - 89 comments

Yesterday John Key gave $30 Million of tax payer’s money to Rio Tinto in order to prop up its electricity deal with Meridian – and thus to prop up his privatisation ideology. Mighty River Power shares took a hit. Smart investors getting out?

Open mike 09/08/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 9th, 2013 - 146 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Labour supports Plunket

Written By: - Date published: 12:47 pm, August 8th, 2013 - 61 comments

Another good policy announcement from David Shearer.

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