Archive for October, 2014

Off to war

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, October 16th, 2014 - 70 comments

Broken promise. Lies. War. The Herald willing to believe anything to defend Brand Key. Just another day in NZ politics.

Nats illegally gaming the OIA process

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, October 16th, 2014 - 75 comments

It is clear to anyone who has read Dirty Politics that the National government illegally games the OIA process for political gain. Now we have Key’s confirmation of the fact.

Open mike 16/10/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, October 16th, 2014 - 155 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 …

Why I’m voting for Andrew Little

Written By: - Date published: 10:41 pm, October 15th, 2014 - 231 comments

Andrew has a lower public profile than some of the other candidates seeking the Labour leadership so here’s some info on him and why I’ll be voting for him.

Grant Robertson campaign launch

Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, October 15th, 2014 - 50 comments

GrantRobertsonCampaignLaunch

Official advice on poverty

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, October 15th, 2014 - 53 comments

An excellent piece by Brent Edwards on Morning Report today, looking at official advice to the government on poverty. Underneath the politicised process the answer is as obvious as ever.

The final field

Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, October 15th, 2014 - 61 comments

Well, the list of Labour leadership contenders has defied the predictions of the pundits (myself included). Here’s my 2c on the final field.

David Parker – my choice for Leader

Written By: - Date published: 7:12 am, October 15th, 2014 - 199 comments

Heavyweight Cabinet experience, strong egalitarian values, a cool debater, with a passion for manufacturing and a high-value economy, a good deal of steel and with an open mind and a twinkle in his eye – these are the reasons why I support David Parker for Labour Party Leader.

Open mike 15/10/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, October 15th, 2014 - 187 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 …

How Slater manufactures smears

Written By: - Date published: 9:45 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 55 comments

Unusually the IPCA chair Judge Sir David Carruthers has written a letter to Matthew Blomfield clarifying that “perjury” is a illusion of the rogue “journalist” and fantasy blogger Cameron Slater. Plus news on the theft of Blomfield’s hard disk. Another judge destroys Slater’s carefully inflated memes with facts.

Dishonourable Judith Collins

Written By: - Date published: 6:25 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 62 comments

Even John Key can’t bring himself to call Judith “Honourable”

ImperatorFish: A useful terror threat tool

Written By: - Date published: 4:53 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 7 comments

Scott examines our threat level.

And then there were four

Written By: - Date published: 4:21 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 173 comments

Twitter is suggesting that Nanaia Mahuta will enter Labour’s leadership race. Update: Her candidacy is confirmed.

The housing dream

Written By: - Date published: 2:06 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 23 comments

The “Kiwi dream” is over – the housing crisis just gets worse and worse.

On the unruly parts of the Labour caucus

Written By: - Date published: 1:17 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 105 comments

It has been disappointing in the last few days to see the lack of respect that some of the Labour politicians on the right of the caucus have for the policy of restraint requested by the party. It appears they see themselves to be above such restraints.

The power & the pressure

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, October 14th, 2014 - 115 comments

We need a new green left direction, now and for the future.  A future Labour-Green-Mana coalition government could provide such a direction.  The original NZ Values Party Manifesto provides an important Blueprint.

Dear David Shearer

Written By: - Date published: 8:51 am, October 14th, 2014 - 278 comments

David Shearer has chosen to publicly call for unity while at the same time attacking David Cunliffe and the concept that Labour’s leadership should be representative.

Open mike 14/10/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:50 am, October 14th, 2014 - 286 comments

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

Andrew Little: Law changes shaping up to be worse than first thought

Written By: - Date published: 8:43 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 24 comments

Good to see David Cunliffe backing Andrew Little. He’s a strong left-wing candidate who is already taking John Key’s attack on workers rights head-on today. Law changes shaping up to be worse than first thought by Andrew Little on October 13, 2014 The Prime Minister needs to be up front about exactly what changes he is planning […]

Some thoughts on David Cunliffe’s withdrawal

Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 111 comments

Some personal comments on news today that David Cunliffe has withdrawn from the Labour leadership contest.

David Cunliffe announces withdrawal from the Labour Party leadership contest

Written By: - Date published: 2:11 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 336 comments

Statement from David Cunliffe I am today announcing that I have decided not to nominate for the 2014 Labour Party leadership contest. It has been a hard decision to make but it is one that I believe is in the best interests of the wider Labour Party. There is so much work to do on […]

Cunliffe to pull out?

Written By: - Date published: 12:35 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 154 comments

Only a rumour at this stage…

NRT: The GCSB has been using our embassies as spybases

Written By: - Date published: 12:26 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 25 comments

I/S at No Right Turn summarises a post from The Intercept on NSA keywords, and what they illustrate about the involvement of our GCSB.

Terrorism and thoughtcrime

Written By: - Date published: 6:54 am, October 13th, 2014 - 51 comments

Key is considering bringing in thoughtcrime. Guilt by association. Detaining people because they may commit a crime.

Open mike 13/10/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:50 am, October 13th, 2014 - 198 comments

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

Q&A with Andrew Little

Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, October 12th, 2014 - 188 comments

I’d like to say thanks to the Standard for hosting me today. I’ve always enjoyed robust political meetings and I’m a firm believer in fronting up and answering the hard questions. Labour is a great party. Our movement’s values are values that New Zealanders share – we’re a party and a nation that believes deeply […]

Hickey on the living wage

Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, October 12th, 2014 - 22 comments

Excellent piece by Bernard Hickey in The Herald this morning.

Greenpeace shows everything is not awesome for Shell

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, October 12th, 2014 - 23 comments

Greenpeace’s effective social media has persuaded Lego to end a long standing arrangement with Shell.

Open mike 12/10/2014

Written By: - Date published: 7:15 am, October 12th, 2014 - 191 comments

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

And then there were four

Written By: - Date published: 6:33 pm, October 11th, 2014 - 156 comments

David Parker is likely to join the leadership race tomorrow…

Update: Confirmed – David Parker is standing.

Fran O’Sullivan and Dirty Politics

Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, October 11th, 2014 - 33 comments

Fran O’Sullivan’s column in the Herald today clearly lays out why the issues surrounding Hanover Finance’s collapse should be investigated by the Police and not by a Government inquiry.