Author Archive

The solar surcharge

Written By: - Date published: 2:39 pm, April 15th, 2016 - 98 comments

Profit gouging or genuine need?

Holding back our productivity

Written By: - Date published: 7:17 am, April 14th, 2016 - 72 comments

Our “business leaders” are doing an objectively poor job. Perhaps instead of insulting Kiwi workers as “pretty damned hopeless”, Bill English should be taking aim at these captains of industry.

PM forced to release his tax details

Written By: - Date published: 8:08 am, April 12th, 2016 - 46 comments

Not our PM, the UK’s David Cameron. Our PM is under pressure to do the same, but refuses. He claims that all his taxes are “beyond reporach”. But he has form (TranzRail shares) on lying about his financial affairs.

Key changed the law to extend NZ as a tax haven

Written By: - Date published: 6:51 am, April 11th, 2016 - 289 comments

John Key personally directed the 2011 law change that turned NZ into an attractive tax haven.

It’s part of a complicated context involving his failed plan to turn NZ into a “financial hub”.

Kiwis to be implicated by Panama papers

Written By: - Date published: 7:13 am, April 10th, 2016 - 120 comments

Yesterday The Nation interviewed the Centre for Public Integrity’s Peter Bale about the inevitability of New Zealanders being implicated by the Panama Papers.

Shameful tactics on beneficiaries

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, April 8th, 2016 - 43 comments

Why does it take a volunteer organisation like Auckland Action Against Poverty to help people get the benefits that they are entitled to?

Panama vows action – NZ closes its eyes

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, April 8th, 2016 - 18 comments

The cycle of corrupt money. 100% tax haven. And we’re being put to shame by Panama.

Obama calls for international tax reform – what will Key do now?

Written By: - Date published: 6:31 am, April 7th, 2016 - 122 comments

Key has made it clear that he doesn’t care that NZ is operating as an international tax haven. When The Greens called for action he called them “barking mad”. But last night President Obama called for international action on tax reform. What will Key do now?

What could be causing the ‘crisis of distrust’ in government?

Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, April 6th, 2016 - 43 comments

It’s a bit of a mystery really.

WTF ONE News?

Written By: - Date published: 4:57 pm, April 5th, 2016 - 21 comments

I know we whine on a lot here about the appalling state of the media in NZ, but does it get any worse than this? Seriously ONE “News” – what the fuck?

Panama Papers: NZ is a tax haven

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, April 5th, 2016 - 29 comments

The Panama Papers show that NZ operates a tax haven. Key’s denials don’t hold up, particularly in the light of at least two three prior warnings that his government has received.

Building a government in waiting

Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, April 4th, 2016 - 162 comments

Good to see Andrew Little working on the practical politics of building a government in waiting.

2800 state houses “transferred”

Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, April 1st, 2016 - 40 comments

Yesterday 2800 state houses in Auckland were “transferred” to a new authority, which plans to “reduce the number of people the State is supporting”.

Time for progress on drug law

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, March 31st, 2016 - 82 comments

Welcome signs of new realism on drugs. Sadly, it’s the sort of progress only a right-wing government can propose.

Flogging off Kiwibank

Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, March 31st, 2016 - 67 comments

Flogging off Kiwibank is not an option.

Angry politics

Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, March 30th, 2016 - 181 comments

Is our political culture getting more angry and aggressive? If so, why?

A quick question (again)

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 am, March 29th, 2016 - 231 comments

“More than 2400 benefits suspended since 2013”. I have a quick question…

Tough couple of weeks for Key

Written By: - Date published: 7:33 am, March 28th, 2016 - 81 comments

Almost enough to make me feel sorry for the man.

Republican circus

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, March 26th, 2016 - 50 comments

And now we have accusations of a sex scandal. Stick a fork in the Republicans, they are done.

Labour’s Ten Big Ideas

Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, March 26th, 2016 - 167 comments

National’s only idea this term has just been shot down by the public. Meanwhile Labour has been thinking about the future and the issues that confront NZ.

What the flag vote means

Written By: - Date published: 8:21 am, March 25th, 2016 - 105 comments

Here are some reckons, for what they’re worth.

Meet the new flag…

Written By: - Date published: 6:50 pm, March 24th, 2016 - 238 comments

… same as the old flag.

Key didn’t take the country with him.

Now let’s get back to the real issues.

Flag distraction result today

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, March 24th, 2016 - 135 comments

Bragging rights I guess to whomever best predicts the outcome.

Future of Work Conference

Written By: - Date published: 3:05 pm, March 23rd, 2016 - 69 comments

Labour’s Future of Work Conference is under way. There is a page with information and live stream here.

Looking to the future – planning to adapt and protect people – this is work a government should be doing. In this case, a government in waiting…

Which hat John?

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, March 22nd, 2016 - 42 comments

The teapot payout shows that, while Key is keen on distinguishing between his various hats when he’s trying to dodge responsibility, he is just as keen on ignoring the differences if it lets him dip into public money.

Don’t extend polluting Huntly power station!

Written By: - Date published: 11:09 am, March 21st, 2016 - 134 comments

Power companies are trying to back out of the previously announced commitment to shut down the fossil fueled power plants at Huntly.

A measure of justice for Nicky Hager

Written By: - Date published: 7:58 am, March 19th, 2016 - 22 comments

The Police’s return yesterday of Nicky Hager’s data, equipment and belongings is – too little and too late – a measure of justice for Hager. But the process doesn’t end there, and open questions remain.

Bunnings trying for end run around employment law

Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, March 18th, 2016 - 69 comments

Bunnings tries for an end run around employment law by using “paid volunteers”.

Nats refuse to apologise for targeting Muslim community

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, March 18th, 2016 - 33 comments

The Nats are refusing to aplogise to the Muslim community for the distress and offense caused by the “jihadi brides” lie. Apologies are for Key’s pet attack blogger, not for innocent communities that have been exploited for political gain.

UK sugar tax

Written By: - Date published: 11:47 am, March 17th, 2016 - 27 comments

The UK has done the sensible thing for public health and introduced “a new tax on sugary drinks”. The Herald asks: UK sugar tax – could NZ be next?

The “jihadi brides” lie

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, March 17th, 2016 - 74 comments

Remember the “jihadi brides” – part of last year’s beat-up about the risk of terrorism in NZ? Yesterday the central lie in the story was revealed.

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