Archive for March, 2015

Northland Polls; Horrorshow for National

Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, March 6th, 2015 - 204 comments

The first polls in the Northland by-election are grim reading for National. It looks likely that Winston will win and National will lose their Parliamentary majority. Have the Tories snatched defeat from the jaws of victory?

National Ltd™ Battling Truth On Two Fronts

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, March 6th, 2015 - 13 comments

The lies and media pap being distributed for public consumption by the boys down at “The Club” are old and worn out now. Politicians, public commentators, and media heads who really think they can get away with this flimsy “rinse and repeat” justification of the indefensible are treated us with contempt. 

Is mass surveillance of Kiwis occurring?

Written By: - Date published: 8:49 am, March 6th, 2015 - 112 comments

The latest Snowden revelations that New Zealand has been collecting bulk data from various Pacific Islands and handing it to the NSA suggests that mass surveillance of New Zealanders is happening, despite promises to the contrary.

Open mike 06/03/2015

Written By: - Date published: 8:07 am, March 6th, 2015 - 413 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 …

Key fails the leadership test

Written By: - Date published: 10:53 am, March 5th, 2015 - 30 comments

Fine work form David Fisher at The Herald. Does Key get to lie and deny his way through yet another crisis?

What has Michael Woodhouse actually got right about employment relations?

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, March 5th, 2015 - 17 comments

For someone responsible for managing employment relations in New Zealand, Michael Woodhouse doesn’t seem to understand what “employment relations” means.

Expect more zero-hours crisis cases

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, March 5th, 2015 - 8 comments

Today is not a good day for workers. Employment law changes that take effect today weaken workers’ rights and will result in more cases of zero-hour contract “excesses”. Labour’s Iain Lees-Galloway has been doing good work on this issue (sign the petition). In contrast National’s position now appears confused, with Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse acknowledging problems even as today’s changes make matters worse.

NZ spies on its Pacific neighbours

Written By: - Date published: 6:29 am, March 5th, 2015 - 170 comments

Nicky Hager and the Herald have reported that the GCSB has been collecting data en masse from New Zealand’s pacific neighbours and handed it over to the Americans for inclusion in xkeystore.

Open mike 05/03/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 5th, 2015 - 51 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 …

Is Human Resource Management in New Zealand Ethical?

Written By: - Date published: 2:21 pm, March 4th, 2015 - 63 comments

The behaviour at NZCU Baywide presents HRINZ with a rare opportunity to demonstrate that it is a body made up of professionals, serious about their work, concerned about standards, and intent on ensuring the safety of others

On Northland

Written By: - Date published: 1:44 pm, March 4th, 2015 - 117 comments

I’ve been getting tired of the fantasy elections that some political commentators seem to enjoy playing. Currently the fantasises is in Northland, with the same old tiresome lines. It is a pity that most of those playing this game don’t ever seem to think about the behaviours of real voters, real candidates, and real parties.

Nats getting squeamish on zero hour contracts

Written By: - Date published: 10:14 am, March 4th, 2015 - 61 comments

Zero hour contracts are the logical end point of National’s agenda for employment legislation. But last night Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse promised legislation to “prohibit the worst excesses”. “Excesses” in the free market – who would have thought?

Why are we going to war?

Written By: - Date published: 8:20 am, March 4th, 2015 - 125 comments

National’s justification for going to war against ISIS suffers from two fundamental problems, it is supporting an Iraqi regime that is corrupt and working against the best interests of all of its people, and there is no plan to convert Iraq into a sustainable state.

Open mike 04/03/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:31 am, March 4th, 2015 - 415 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 …

Local Bodies: A Luddite Led National Government

Written By: - Date published: 4:01 pm, March 3rd, 2015 - 25 comments

The development of new knowledge and technology is growing at a faster rate than ever before and successful businesses generally have to remain at the cutting edge of their industries to survive. But National likes the obsolete extractive industries from early last century.

NRT: Climate change: The first climate war

Written By: - Date published: 3:10 pm, March 3rd, 2015 - 41 comments

One of the predictions about climate change is that climate change-induced drought and famine will lead to more wars. Sadly, it turns out that what is happening in Syria is one of those wars.

Dim-Post on *that* $168k cake story

Written By: - Date published: 12:07 pm, March 3rd, 2015 - 80 comments

Danyl at the Dim-Post has looked more closely at the decision to award a worker $168k over a cake and a Facebook post – and what it tells us about National’s employment law reforms.

Politicising banking

Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, March 3rd, 2015 - 110 comments

The attack on banking services for Mega is a high profile example of the politicisation of banking. We’re on a very slippery slope here…

Open mike 03/03/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:45 am, March 3rd, 2015 - 244 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 …

Kelsey et al on TPPA Wn 4 & Akl 5 March

Written By: - Date published: 9:33 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 6 comments

It’s High Noon for the TPPA – Jane Kelsey with others will speak in Wellington at Connolly Hall 5:30pm Wednesday 4 March and in Auckland at Owen Glenn Building 6:30pm (correction 5:30pm) Thursday 5 March. All welcome – more info and register Wn here and Akl here.

Key folds on pay rises

Written By: - Date published: 4:41 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 82 comments

Key has folded on MPs’ pay rises. Vernon Small and others are covering events on Twitter.

Political donations and conflicts of interest

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 53 comments

Whether it’s about election donations or portfolios, some people do seem to think MPs should always get the benefit of the doubt.

Brassneck

Written By: - Date published: 12:21 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 64 comments

The release of the candidate donation returns has shown us that the National Party are still rorting the system. However, there are issues for the NZ Labour Party as well. Four MP’s have taken money from sources that do not have the interests of the Labour party or, indeed, the majority of Kiwis at heart. Brassneck or bought and sold?

David Lange had guts

Written By: - Date published: 7:26 am, March 2nd, 2015 - 133 comments

lange-speech

Open mike 02/03/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:55 am, March 2nd, 2015 - 134 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 …

A Fair Deal for Christchurch

Written By: - Date published: 4:51 pm, March 1st, 2015 - 92 comments

The Christchurch earthquake was a catastrophe that was national in its impact and significance but that required the people of Christchurch to pay its terrible price. In the four years that have since elapsed, they have had to shoulder the burden of rebuilding shattered lives and a devastated environment. There has been no shortage of […]

Do the young really lack concentration?

Written By: - Date published: 1:23 pm, March 1st, 2015 - 85 comments

Now that I can no longer call myself young, the old adage that younger people simply lack concentration does appear to me to be correct. I look to the numbers on The Standard to see if there is a correlation and if I can argue a causation based on age. Are the younger readers without concentration, or are they just busy…

Andrea Vance on Andrew Little’s “dream run”

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 am, March 1st, 2015 - 20 comments

Andrea Vance on the Labour leader’s first 100 days in office.

Spock was a socialist

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, March 1st, 2015 - 23 comments

If you analyse the many things said by Spock you would come to the conclusion that he was a strong progressive.

Sand sculpture competition at Whatipu

Written By: - Date published: 7:37 am, March 1st, 2015 - 2 comments

If you are looking for something to do today there is a sand sculpture competition with an environmental theme happening at Whatipu.

Open mike 01/03/2015

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 1st, 2015 - 278 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 …