Author Archive

Armstrong on Pike River

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:27 am, November 27th, 2010 - 71 comments

As the public and private mourning for the Pike River 29 continues, focus will begin to shift to how this event occurred with no less than five inquires soon to begin. John Armstrong has a very good article on the issues that will be in the spotlight. This is not about political point-scoring, it’s about preventing future tragedies. I ask for comments to be in that vein.

Unravelling at both ends

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:57 am, November 26th, 2010 - 42 comments

The new foreshore and seabed deal is going sour for the government at both ends. The Maori Party is in a state of virtual civil war with the fundi faction led by Hone Harawira gaining support against Tariana Turia’s sell-out faction. Meanwhile, National is feeling the heat as ACT targets its redneck vote.

Police Commissioner: prison breeds crime

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 6:30 am, November 26th, 2010 - 230 comments

It’s pretty bloody late in his tenure to be saying it, but Police Commissioner Howard Broad has joined with every expert in telling politicians that their braindead, populist policy of increasing the number of crimes and ramping up prison sentences has to stop. It’s not a solution to crime, it’s making it worse.

Wong: frequent flyer

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 10:00 am, November 25th, 2010 - 34 comments

Labour revealed yesterday that Pansy Wong traveled abroad an astonishing eleven times as Minister for Women’s Affairs and Ethnic Affairs, spending $147,000 in two years making her one of the highest spending ministers. Six of those trips were to China. What was she doing? Why did Key sign off on these trips?

Fire at Will coming to your workplace

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 10:30 am, November 24th, 2010 - 33 comments

As of April 1 next year, I’m going to be a whole lot less confident moving to a new job. If I do, I’ll probably find the new contract gives the boss the right to fire me without giving me the right to justice if the firing is unfair. Reducing workers’ confidence to change jobs is just one of the stupid consequences of universal Fire at Will.

Waiting on Wong to do right

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 6:12 am, November 23rd, 2010 - 67 comments

Why are we waiting for Pansy Wong to resign from Parliament for her corrupt use of her MP’s perks or, failing that, for the Nats to evict her? The theory is the Nats want to avoid a by-election over summer. As Trevor Mallard puts it – Key wants to have his Hawaii holiday in peace. But the NBR’s Matt Nippert has other reasons for Wong’s soft treatment.

Kiwis feel worse off after Nat tax swindle

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 9:43 am, November 22nd, 2010 - 23 comments

A new Horizon poll shows that the vast majority of Kiwis at all incomes level, but especially low-income families, feel worse off after the Nats’ October 1 tax swindle. John Key claimed the vast bulk of us would be better off but clearly we aren’t; shuffling money around and giving more to the rich leaves the rest of us with less.

Assessing Labour’s Mana result

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 9:44 am, November 21st, 2010 - 93 comments

Labour can be reasonably pleased with the Mana result. The majority is small but that does not mean anything for the wider party. To win Labour had to overcome 1) a weak candidate 2) a ferocious Key-centred National campaign 3) a threat to its left 4) a media narrative that damned it thrice over, and 5) a very low turn-out.

Armstrong on Do Nothing Key’s big adventure

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 12:37 pm, November 20th, 2010 - 28 comments

John Armstrong’s straight-faced piss-take of John Key’s holiday very important diplomatic mission to Japan last week is very very funny. Without a hint of irony, Armstrong reveals how Key achieved nothing, talked big only to be put in his place by the big boys, and filled in his diary that was devoid of important meetings with pissant PR.

Fears for miners after explosion

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:08 pm, November 19th, 2010 - 44 comments

I’ve just heard about the disaster at Pike River coal mine on the West Coast. [Updated] 29 miners are trapped 1500m below ground by a massive explosion. Five have made it out with moderate injuries. Obviously, there’s big concern for the lives of the missing workers. More details as they come – our thoughts are with their families.

Key: up to Labour to stop us rorting

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 12:33 pm, November 17th, 2010 - 25 comments

With Pansy Wong in hiding on John Key’s orders, rort-buster Pete Hodgson laid the blame her corruption and all the other rorts squarely on Key yesterday. In question after question, Key couldn’t make a serious defence of his record. Then, he made an extraordinary admission: his ministers will keep on rorting – it’s up to Labour to catch them.

If Wong stays an MP will she be welcome in National?

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:40 am, November 17th, 2010 - 79 comments

The latest revelation in the Pansy Wong saga is a Chinese newspaper article where she, as Minister, endorses her husband’s company’s product. John Key says that it would be a sacking offence were she a minister but its up to her if she resigns from Parliament. Here’s a question then: is he going to let this corrupt MP remain in his party’s caucus?

Worse than I imagined

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:31 pm, November 15th, 2010 - 98 comments

We learn from rort-buster Pete Hodgson that Pansy Wong and her husband have been running private companies out of her taxpayer-funded electorate office. I don’t see how she can remain in Parliament now. Who set and enforced the standards that have seen so many ministers involved in rorts? There’s only one person to point the finger at: Key

Pansy’s future wilting

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 6:30 am, November 15th, 2010 - 40 comments

Will Pansy Wong face criminal charges for fraudulently abusing her MP’s travel perk? Will she be forced to leave Parliament triggering a(nother) by-election and possibly even an extra early election? What will Lockwood Smith’s investigation turn up? Whatever comes, at least she isn’t a minister anymore but who will replace her?

Holmes not new Henry

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 5:30 pm, November 14th, 2010 - 21 comments

TVNZ approached National media trainer and broadcast bigot Paul Holmes to replace failed National candidate and broadcast bigot on Breakfast. Holmes has apparently turned down the offer. Thank goodness. He’s unprofessional, open bias and panels with John Tamihere representing the Left have made Q+A unwatchable. Breakfast should aim higher.

Focused on what matters

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:51 am, November 13th, 2010 - 32 comments

John Key has been on holiday in Japan for the last few days ahead of APEC while the real international leaders are in Korea for the G20. Key is keen to have a ‘pull-aside’ with Obama but, now, disaster: the US has limited the number of Kiwi media that can cover the smiling and waving. Key has leaped into action.

Now who’s the f*ckwit?

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 1:31 pm, November 12th, 2010 - 86 comments

Pansy Wong has been stood down resigned over her abuse of her ministerial status and perks for her husband’s private business dealings. I expected that Key act ‘relaxed’ and hope for this blow over. That he hasn’t indicates they’ve uncovered something more. Will we find out what it is, or will Key pull another Richard Worth on us? Updates coming.

Fired for using too much sauce

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 10:22 am, November 12th, 2010 - 47 comments

The Nats are determined to push through more attacks on the rights of working New Zealanders. The latest stories of abuse of the Fire at Will law to emerge involve a chef who ‘who used too much sauce’ and a dairy worker who stood up for an abused immigrant worker. The Nats want all of us to be subject to Fire at Will. Our job is to fight back.

Wong done wrong, Key cringing

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 9:15 am, November 12th, 2010 - 29 comments

We’re getting to the meat of the Pansy Wong affair. Stating her occupation when witnessing a form for her husband’s business deal was no major problem. But Wong’s flights were paid with her MP’s travel perk. That is a serious problem. The rules “expressly forbid MPs from using their private travel perk to pursue their own or their spouse’s private business interests”.

Different approaches to campaigning in Mana

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 1:40 pm, November 11th, 2010 - 28 comments

The two major parties’ Mana campaigns are a prelude for 2011. Labour is focusing on boots on the ground and a strong candiate making personal contact with voters. National knows their candidate is weak so they’re turning to their one asset: Key. Meanwhile, Matt McCarten’s insurgent campaign is getting Left issues national coverage.

Caption competition

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 9:10 am, November 11th, 2010 - 13 comments

The image is from a flyer for Hekia Parata’s fundraiser at the ritzy Pauatahanui Inlet Lodge this evening (click through for full flyer). I bet there’ll be lots of working folks in Mana digging into their pockets for the $55 charge.

As for captions, here’s my suggestion:

‘The messiah feeds the 5,000 – for $55 a head’

Informed debate from Jonathan Coleman

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 2:00 pm, November 10th, 2010 - 22 comments

Yesterday, Jonathan Coleman was handed the job of doing the introductory speech on the Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill 2010. Coleman was reading from a prepared speech that someone had handed him, and it was the wrong speech for the wrong Bill. Coleman, without seeming to realise anything was amiss, proceeded to repeat verbatim a speech Peter Dunne gave a year ago for the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Bill.

‘Minister Hitler’ comment upsets Farrar – sad he didn’t think of it himself

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 10:59 am, November 9th, 2010 - 82 comments

It’s interesting to see the amount of anti-teacher information National is sending to Farrar and Slater. The depth of research involved in uncovering this stuff means it’s clearly research unit work. The latest tidbit Farrar and Slater have their knickers in a twist about is a principal referring to Anne Tolley as ‘Minister Hitler’ on her Facebook wall.

SAS -services for sale?

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:48 am, November 8th, 2010 - 45 comments

I’m gobsmacked that John Key thinks it is a “good idea” for the SAS to whore itself and Crown property out so that fat businessmen can play soldier. What is our elite force doing pandering to the delusions of middle-aged dickheads to make money for a private fund? And what has happened to the SAS’s secrecy?

New Left Party?

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:20 am, November 7th, 2010 - 209 comments

The rumour mill has been buzzing since a couple of commenters here let slip about Matt McCarten’s run in the Mana by-election. Word around the traps is the campaign will be used to launch a new Left Party with McCarten, Hone Harawira, Sue Bradford and others. It’s an exciting possibility.

Doin’ nothin’: Foreign policy

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:30 am, November 6th, 2010 - 21 comments

Over at Dimpost, Danyl makes a pertinent observation: “Reiteration that we are ‘very good friends’. Zero development on trade or defense issues. I’m not even sure why she’s here.” There was nothing solid. The ‘Wellington Declaration is, in John Armstrong’s words, featherlight – a big name for less substance than a normal visit. More style over substance.

Key hides from real questions

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 1:00 pm, November 4th, 2010 - 56 comments

How come John Key called Paul Henry’s racist comments completely unacceptable and Henry was forced to resign but Maurice Williamson’s racism is defended as ‘humour’ by Key and no punishment results? A question you might like to put to the PM. Well, if you try to ask it on Newstalk ZB they’ll let the PM’s staff censor you.

Made in Wellington

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:35 am, November 3rd, 2010 - 33 comments

I went to see Made in Dagenham last night. The parallels between the dispute, that began when female workers at a Ford plant in the UK struck for better pay, and then equal pay with men, and the Hobbit fiasco were striking. But it’s the dissimilarties in the outcomes that I was left pondering. Let’s take a look at the two events:

Turia vs the Maori Party Left

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 12:00 pm, November 1st, 2010 - 41 comments

The problem with any identity-based political movement is it pre-supposes that the common identity of its members surpasses their conflicting class interests. This has been brought to the head at the Maori Party national conference as Tariana Turia angrily denounced criticism of the Maori elite from the Left faction.

Mark Ames on the rally to restore sanity

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 7:03 pm, October 31st, 2010 - 28 comments

Liberals too cool to be caught standing for anything sit on the fence and make clever whithering comment while oligarchs who realise just how serious it really is wage war on the poor and the middle class.

No, it’s not the Hobbit fiasco, it’s Mark Ames’ take on the rally for vanity and what it really means for the US.

A rushed law, a bad law

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 5:11 pm, October 29th, 2010 - 56 comments

The Hobbit Enabling Act is meant to do is say ‘you’re an employee if you are called an employee in your contract, if not, you’re a contractor’. But it doesn’t say that and it doesn’t override the Bryson case that caused the ‘uncertainty’ Warners supposedly feared. Now, nobody knows what the law actually is. Well-founded disagreements will mean court cases.