Author Archive

Free doco

Written By: - Date published: 9:59 pm, February 17th, 2009 - 13 comments

There’s been a lot of talk over the last couple of days on Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and the controversial referendum on removing the two-term limit on standing for re-election. As it happens I recently discovered John Pilger’s recent documentary The War on Democracy is now available for free on Google Video. Granted, Pilger’s a […]

Ryall sacks DHB Chair

Written By: - Date published: 5:47 pm, February 17th, 2009 - 31 comments

Health Minister Tony Ryall’s decision to sack Richard Thompson as Chairman of the Otago District Health Board on the grounds of historical fraud by a staff member has a nasty whiff of political interference to it. Considering the fraud began before Thompson became Chairman and it was caught and stopped under his watch the case […]

So much for democracy

Written By: - Date published: 12:50 pm, February 17th, 2009 - 21 comments

The Greens have released advice from the Ministry of Justice confirming that the Government’s rushed RMA changes will prevent legitimate cases going to court and undermine fundamental justice rights. According to the leaked cabinet paper: ‘the [financial] risks associated with security of costs can act as a barrier for those with legitimate cases but little […]

“We are all socialists now”

Written By: - Date published: 12:09 pm, February 17th, 2009 - 21 comments

“We are all socialists now”, or so says the cover of the latest Newsweek. And to be fair, you’ve got to start wondering when the United States is in the process of nationalising the means of exchange and a Tory Prime Minister of New Zealand is looking at effectively buying out a chunk of one […]

Institutional racism

Written By: - Date published: 4:20 pm, February 13th, 2009 - 110 comments

Bruce Emery’s sentence of just four years and three months on a reduced charge of manslaughter for chasing 15 year old Pihema Cameron 300 metres down the street and stabbing him to death with a knife is a stark reminder of the institutional racism that still exists in this country. Let’s not pretend for a […]

First as tragedy, second as farce

Written By: - Date published: 4:54 pm, February 11th, 2009 - 11 comments

After Roger Douglas’ big comeback speech was accidentally released two days early on the Internet due to inept media handling, then parodied on youtube by a sockpuppet before it had even been delivered I didn’t see much point in bothering with the actual content. Funnily enough, not many others have either. But one person who […]

Employer opposes wage increases – shock!

Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, February 11th, 2009 - 33 comments

Yesterday I expressed concern about Unite’s referendum on indexing the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage on practical grounds while strongly supporting the idea in principle. Today in its editorial the Herald takes exception to the principle, complaining that such a move, even phased in over a three year period, would deny people […]

Question Time open thread

Written By: - Date published: 3:46 pm, February 10th, 2009 - 49 comments

Due to popular demand, here’s an open thread for discussion of today’s Question Time. Knock yourselves out.

On the minimum wage referendum

Written By: - Date published: 11:50 am, February 10th, 2009 - 46 comments

The Unite Union has reacted to the Government’s miserly adjustment to the minimum wage by initiating a referendum on tying the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage. The principle behind the referendum is a good one. Indexing the minimum wage to 66% would be a huge step towards making sure our lowest paid […]

Labour calls for $13 minimum wage

Written By: - Date published: 1:51 pm, February 9th, 2009 - 34 comments

Phil Goff has come out strongly in anticipation of today’s minimum wage announcement from the Government with a call for an immediate increase to $13 an hour, rising to $15 over three years. As he points out, if National only increases the minimum wage from $12 to $12.50 an hour as the DoL suggests, that […]

Govt to sell your kids junk food

Written By: - Date published: 1:17 pm, February 5th, 2009 - 102 comments

Education Minister Anne Tolley has just put out a press release announcing the following: ‘As part of the National Government’s commitment to reducing compliance for schools, I have decided to remove the clause in National Administration Guideline (5) which states ‘where food and beverages are sold on schools’ premises, to make only healthy options available’. […]

No room for Roger

Written By: - Date published: 11:45 am, February 2nd, 2009 - 8 comments

Roger Kerr from the Business Roundtable is full of advice for the Government’s upcoming jobs summit in today’s Dom Post. Which is unfortunate for Rog’, because according to my sources he won’t be getting an invite. Neither will Alasdair Thompson, the mildly unhinged chief executive of EMA Northern who famously lost his rag against Trevor […]

New Left blog

Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, February 2nd, 2009 - Comments Off on New Left blog

Dread Times, a new blog by former Green MP Nandor Tanczos. Hat tip: No Right Turn.

Just Left becomes group blog

Written By: - Date published: 9:50 am, January 29th, 2009 - 11 comments

Jordan Carter’s long-running Just Left has become a group blog with several new contributors. Jordan explains: The logic is simple. Some of the best blogs and spots of political writing out there now (Hand Mirror, Pundit, PublicAddress, The Standard) are sites with more than one author. They usually share a point of view, but they […]

What National’s Kiwisaver cuts mean for you

Written By: - Date published: 4:59 pm, December 22nd, 2008 - 38 comments

The Council of Trade Unions has done some research showing a worker with a Kiwisaver account will stand to lose as much as $200,000 in accumulated savings over their working life as a result of the National-led Government’s changes to the scheme. If you’re on $50k a year then National’s Kiwisaver cuts will cost you […]

Now that’s more like it

Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, December 22nd, 2008 - 17 comments

Screw Obama, my vote’s with the shoe thrower. Hat tip: onegoodmove

Prison tucker

Written By: - Date published: 1:09 pm, December 19th, 2008 - 57 comments

When I saw this photo of Pita Sharples tucking into a prison meal in today’s Dom Post I was hopeful it was a stunt to try and put a stop to the mean-spirited howls from talkbackland over how prisoners have it too good at Christmas time. But what a difference a ministerial warrant and the […]

The Big Three

Written By: - Date published: 11:41 pm, December 18th, 2008 - 4 comments

I was listening to some of the old White Stripes when I got home this evening when this song came on. Given the all the talk around the bailout of the Big Three car manufacturers I figured it was kind of appropriate. Enjoy.

Police spied on Unite Union too

Written By: - Date published: 3:09 pm, December 18th, 2008 - 42 comments

Matt McCarten, head of the Unite Union, has just released emails showing police informant Rob Gilchrist gave the police spy unit details about activities being organised by the union as part of their push to abolish youth pay rates and increase the minimum wage. ‘These emails give lie to the police claim that only potential […]

Who else are they spying on?

Written By: - Date published: 2:24 pm, December 17th, 2008 - 16 comments

Gordon Campbell raises a good question in his latest Scoop column – are the Police also using paid informants to spy on mosques? According to the original Sunday Star-Times article, the Police informant Rob Gilchrist was getting $600 a week for his information. This is a substantial amount, and more than enough to entice anyone […]

Shameful

Written By: - Date published: 5:08 pm, December 15th, 2008 - 79 comments

And so the Maori Party’s sell-out of its own people continues. Hot on the heels of the party’s vote to take money out of the pockets of the poor to pay for tax cuts for the rich, this morning’s Dominion Post reports: Green Party MP Mitiria Turei has accused the Maori Party of disgraceful behaviour […]

Calculating

Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, December 12th, 2008 - 21 comments

Long live the Free Speech Coalition

Written By: - Date published: 5:23 pm, December 11th, 2008 - 79 comments

David Farrar, champion of democracy. We salute you for speaking truth to power, no matter who’s in charge. [Original here]

Minister of Education lies to teachers

Written By: - Date published: 2:55 pm, December 11th, 2008 - 36 comments

Here’s Anne Tolley telling teachers before the election that they would not be covered by the fire at will legislation. Turns out she was lying. Teachers at at least 800 schools nationwide will now have no work rights in their first 90 days on the job. Whatever it takes to win, eh National?

Maori Party does the right thing

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, December 11th, 2008 - 4 comments

Well, it’s a relief to see that while the Maori Party might have voted to take money out of the pockets of the poor to pay for tax cuts for the rich, they’ve at least held the line on protecting our work rights by rejecting National’s fire at will bill. Pita Sharples hits the nail […]

Something to go to in Auckland tonight

Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, December 11th, 2008 - 1 comment

We Won’t Pay for Their Crisis Public Meeting convened by Socialist Aotearoa with John Minto, Unite Union Catherine Delahunty, MP Green Party Frank Doleman, Socialist Aotearoa and a wide representation of Auckland’s fighting left. 7pm Thursday Dec 11th Auckland Trades Hall, 147 GreatNorth Road Grey Lynn www.socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com 021 1861450 solidarityjoe@yahoo.com

Arrogant and out of touch

Written By: - Date published: 6:25 pm, December 10th, 2008 - 55 comments

The Manawatu Standard has a good op-ed piece today on how National has squandered its honeymoon with its arrogant and out-of-touch behaviour on the fire at will bill. The National party rose to power on the back of, among other things, scathing accusations that a supremely arrogant Labour party had “lost touch” with the people. […]

All I want for Christmas

Written By: - Date published: 5:20 pm, December 10th, 2008 - 11 comments

This viral email from the Council of Trade Unions is doing the rounds. Make sure you click on through and tell John all we want for Christmas is fair work rights: On the twelfth day of Christmas, the Government gave to me… Just days into the new Government and already National has introduced laws which […]

Some questions for Kate

Written By: - Date published: 8:46 pm, December 9th, 2008 - 23 comments

Kate Wikinson, John Key’s hapless Minister of Labour, has told NZPA the public shouldn’t get to have their say on the fire at will bill because, apparently, we already had our chance with Wayne Mapp’s private member’s bill back in 2006. This argument is complete bollocks, and she knows it. Perhaps that’s why she refused […]

Oh dear

Written By: - Date published: 5:14 pm, December 9th, 2008 - 55 comments

Rodney Hide on National and ACT’s select committee into the ETS: “I am especially pleased to see that the issue of the scientific and trade implications will be considered alongside the impacts on the economy. “There is definitely not a monolithic view on the fact of human induced climate change and I welcome this government’s […]

Spin-busting: Probationary periods

Written By: - Date published: 2:20 pm, December 9th, 2008 - 22 comments

National has been working hard to push the idea that its fire at will policy introduces a ‘probationary period’ of employment. This is not true. The Employment Relations Act already allows for probationary employment periods, it simply requires that workers are given the right to fair process and natural justice. All National’s proposed legislation would […]