Author Archive
The Nats’ new ‘swimmable’ rivers aren’t
Written By: - Date published: 3:08 pm, February 28th, 2017 - 15 comments
Under the new standards we have up to a 1 in 6 risk of serious infection at the times that we actually swim in rivers, and Smith is trying to hide this fact by fudging around with year-long averages. David Parker’s analysis yesterday was bang on.
Homeless crisis hidden in plain sight
Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, February 28th, 2017 - 10 comments
Bill blames the blowout in emergency housing grants on the “hidden homeless”. Hidden only from those who will not see. Hidden only from a government that deliberately chooses for political reasons not to collect the relevant data.
You can’t afford a house because of – plants!
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, February 27th, 2017 - 58 comments
I’m used to hearing some pretty pathetic excuses out of the National government. But this will really take some beating.
A fan grieves Key’s popularity bubble
Written By: - Date published: 10:08 am, February 26th, 2017 - 24 comments
Today’s news, tomorrow’s fish and chip wrapper. Tracy Watkins grieves. Max Rashbrooke explains.
Australia’s war
Written By: - Date published: 12:52 pm, February 25th, 2017 - 5 comments
Surprising no one: “A newly declassified report obtained by Fairfax Media reveals Australia’s role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq was undertaken solely to enhance our alliance with the US.”
Can we even afford to be tenants in our own country?
Written By: - Date published: 9:29 am, February 25th, 2017 - 93 comments
Being tenants in our own country is starting to look like the good old days.
Mt Albert – the left and the right
Written By: - Date published: 11:29 am, February 24th, 2017 - 80 comments
All the best to all candidates, and thank you to Julie Anne Genter and Jacinda Ardern for showing us all such a model of cooperation.
Two big policy fails
Written By: - Date published: 10:24 am, February 24th, 2017 - 10 comments
This is what you get with a hasty, reactive, “top down” policy process.
1984
Written By: - Date published: 11:39 am, February 23rd, 2017 - 120 comments
That Orwell was ahead of his time.
Living wage rises to $20.20 an hour
Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, February 21st, 2017 - 30 comments
The living wage rises, and an odd argument for abolishing the minimum wage.
What if anything does Bill English believe in?
Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, February 21st, 2017 - 71 comments
Can anyone work out what English stands for? His actions and his words are at odds. Vernon Small tries and fails to pin English down on electoral deals, Winston Peters, abolishing the Maori seats, and more.
Rocketwerkz – an enlightened employer
Written By: - Date published: 8:27 pm, February 20th, 2017 - 8 comments
We sometimes give employers a bit of a hard time on this blog, so it’s nice to occasionally celebrate a good one. Dunedin gaming company Rocketwerkz is in the headlines for all the right reasons.
National’s one-trick election pony – the eternal mirage of tax cuts
Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, February 20th, 2017 - 46 comments
As Finance Minister Bill English effectively ruled out tax cuts, but it’s election year, and so of course the Nats can’t help but trot out their one-trick election pony again.
Fires are the new normal
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, February 17th, 2017 - 65 comments
Hey Bill English, it’s not the case that “no one could have anticipated the large-scale fire on the Port Hills”. Just about every relevant organisation could and did predict it. Most of the other predictions relating to climate change will come true too.
Human Rights Commission calls for an inquiry – English says no
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, February 15th, 2017 - 10 comments
Greens stand aside in Ōhāriu
Written By: - Date published: 8:47 am, February 14th, 2017 - 114 comments
Putting aside misgivings for the sake of the greater good is a mark of political maturity which many politicians and commentators could learn from.
Russia’s ‘traditional family values’
Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, February 12th, 2017 - 22 comments
Constructive and positive ‘conservative’ organisations everywhere should be outraged at the way the use of ‘traditional family values’ gets corrupted, and they should be doing more to speak out against it.
Salvation Army report – NZ “Off the Track”
Written By: - Date published: 8:56 am, February 8th, 2017 - 61 comments
“The absence of any meaningful progress in reducing child poverty rates over the past decade—and the lack of interest by Government in using welfare and income support programmes to do so—points to wilful indifference toward the long-term personal and social impacts of this avoidable harm.”
Low bar diplomacy
Written By: - Date published: 1:29 pm, February 7th, 2017 - 23 comments
So apparently the PM managed to get through a 15 minute call without “upsetting” Trump. That’s where we set the bar these days.
A good week for Labour and Greens
Written By: - Date published: 12:27 pm, February 4th, 2017 - 25 comments
Following on from their joint “state of the nation” it’s been a good week for the political left in NZ. Here’s a roundup.
Poverty and health
Written By: - Date published: 7:57 am, February 4th, 2017 - 43 comments
Socioeconomic status is a major health risk factor. Not exactly a surprise is it.
Aussie Aussie Aussie, Ouch Ouch Ouch!
Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, February 3rd, 2017 - 70 comments
Diplomacy in the age of Trump is going to be a real blast. Just ask Australia.
O’Connor and Jackson for Labour
Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, February 2nd, 2017 - 71 comments
Like many, I have mixed feelings about these developments, but on balance I am in favour of the “broad church” approach
English condemned
Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, February 1st, 2017 - 25 comments
Interim PM Bill English is getting a hammering for his “weak and indecisive” response to Trump’s Muslim ban.
A PM but not a leader
Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, January 31st, 2017 - 35 comments
Bill English has failed his first test of real leadership. Compare and contrast, English and Little’s responses to the Muslim ban.
Update: The image is Emmerson’s take in The Herald.
Trump’s Muslim travel ban
Written By: - Date published: 9:38 am, January 29th, 2017 - 150 comments
Welcome to the new America.
The cost of education
Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, January 28th, 2017 - 14 comments
National needs to do something to address spiraling education costs in both the secondary and tertiary sectors.
Special Relationship 2
Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, January 27th, 2017 - 58 comments
The Bush Blair “special relationship” was a geopolitical disaster of epic proportions. Get ready for Round 2, Trump May.
Postcards from the Trumpocalypse
Written By: - Date published: 10:25 am, January 26th, 2017 - 66 comments
This is what an unfettered right-wing government looks like.
Lifeboat NZ
Written By: - Date published: 11:14 am, January 25th, 2017 - 100 comments
How do we feel about NZ becoming a lifeboat for the super-rich to run out on the problems that they created?
Minimum wage increase doesn’t meet real costs (the CPI is broken)
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, January 25th, 2017 - 53 comments
Any increase in the minimum wage is better than nothing, but National’s increases have not kept pace with the real cost increases (notably housing) faced by low income earners. That is why we are seeing the rise of the working poor, and increases in homelessness and poverty.
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