Author Archive

Ardern’s war paint

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, August 27th, 2017 - 65 comments

John Armstrong coined a memorable headline: That ain’t lipstick – it’s war paint. Jo Moir writes on the Jacinda tsunami in South Auckland, and Liam Dann gives Labour the economic thumbs up. Not a bad weekend for Labour!

Congratulations Black Ferns!

Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, August 27th, 2017 - 24 comments

The All Blacks won a game last night, but it is the Black Ferns who own the front page of the (online) Herald today. An overdue sign of changing times. Good stuff.

A tale of two hospital announcements

Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, August 26th, 2017 - 54 comments

There were some notable differences between Labour and National’s accouncements of a new Dunedin hospital…

Jacindamania – international edition

Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, August 25th, 2017 - 137 comments

It can’t be many tiny countries that have a leader of the opposition make positive international headlines, but Jacinda Ardern has managed it.

Armstrong: The tide going out on National

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, August 24th, 2017 - 189 comments

John Armstrong writes on the tide going out on National, and the big swing towards Labour in Ohariu.

Ardern cautious on capital gains tax

Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, August 23rd, 2017 - 146 comments

Jacinda Ardern will not campaign on a capital gains tax, but will seek advice and will not rule it out in a first term. The Nats have introduced a week form of CGT already. A more robust version needs serious consideration.

A handy link to Labour policy for people who can’t use Google

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, August 22nd, 2017 - 12 comments

What it says on the label.

Another DHB in trouble

Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, August 22nd, 2017 - 45 comments

National found $10b down the back of the sofa for roads roads roads, but is under funding our health system to the point of collapse.

Sexist pigs and lipstick

Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, August 21st, 2017 - 119 comments

I like some TOP policy I really do, but Gareth Morgan needs to stop being a dick if he wants to get his party over the line.

Vision vs roads

Written By: - Date published: 8:26 am, August 21st, 2017 - 18 comments

The weekend offered up a pretty clear contrast between Labour and National. Address the problems facing New Zealand, or build more roads that make no long-term sense.

Still no answers on housing from Nats

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, August 20th, 2017 - 14 comments

Yesterday Phil Twyford debated Amy Adams on the housing crisis. Adams was hopeless, the Nats still have no answers.

Labour’s momentum – Nat’s fall

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, August 18th, 2017 - 87 comments

What Jacinda Ardern has accomplished here is nothing short of astonishing. As a one-off bump in the polls it rivals Brash’s infamous Orewa speech. But Ardern’s rise is based on optimism and positivity rather than racist dog whistles.

Labour addresses urgent mental health need in Canterbury

Written By: - Date published: 12:41 pm, August 17th, 2017 - 5 comments

In the wake of devastating earthquakes in Canterbury, National’s treatment of mental health needs in the region has been absolutely shameful. Yesterday Jacinda Ardern released new policy to help address the crisis. Great work from Labour in an area that National have cruelly neglected.

National – Delivering no pay rises for NZ

Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, August 17th, 2017 - 15 comments

Expect plenty of Nat boasting on “the economy” in the election campaign. They’ll be desperate to hide the inconvenient fact that ordinary workers are going backwards.

Key praises Ardern and Labour

Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, August 16th, 2017 - 53 comments

Key: “The camera likes Jacinda. Paul Holmes once said to me ‘on TV they see your heart’ – she responds well to that so that works really well for her…”, “Labour made the right decision to make Jacinda Ardern leader”

Race Relations Commissioner calls on UN to to support inquiry into the abuse of children in state care

Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, August 16th, 2017 - 14 comments

Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has called on the UN to tell the government to hold an independent inquiry into the abuse of children and people with disabilities in state care. (Some of us were wrong about Devoy!)

Nats repeat failed bootcamp policy in plea to rally their scared angry base

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, August 15th, 2017 - 30 comments

English’s “boot camp” policy is pure politics. As much as he tries to deny it, it’s more or less an exact repeat of Key’s failed 2008 attempt, it would do much more harm than good if ever implemented. More than any other flailing to date, this mess is a sign of National’s desperation.

National’s weekend of blind panic

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, August 14th, 2017 - 53 comments

What a weekend of National panic that was. From desperate lies on water costs to repeating failed policy from 2008 to plans to wake parents up in the middle of the night to administer “instant fines” in a youth curfew. Jacinda Ardern’s Labour has got them on the run.

The parties on science

Written By: - Date published: 8:28 am, August 13th, 2017 - 40 comments

There’s an interesting piece by Peter Griffin over at Sciblogs on various parties’ positions on science in NZ. Not many Kiwis vote on the basis of science – and that’s one of our problems.

Impressed with James Shaw

Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, August 11th, 2017 - 141 comments

I have been impressed with James Shaw lately. The Greens may have lost Turei, but they have seen Shaw grow in stature.

NZF is finished

Written By: - Date published: 8:43 am, August 11th, 2017 - 104 comments

Here’s a prediction for you.

Gower rightly apologises to Greens

Written By: - Date published: 11:44 am, August 10th, 2017 - 35 comments

“Newshub political editor Patrick Gower has apologised to Green Party leader James Shaw for suggesting a bad poll result drove his co-leader to quit.” If you are angry about this – use your vote…

How high will Ardern’s Labour go?

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, August 10th, 2017 - 69 comments

If Jacinda Ardern’s Labour can get a jump to 33-36% in the polls in just one week, how high can it go for the election? We need to see further gains coming from National – and they will. We need to see the Green vote recover – and it will…

Two good polls for Labour – and a call to arms for the Greens

Written By: - Date published: 7:05 pm, August 9th, 2017 - 95 comments

Two polls out tonight show a big surge for Labour and Jacinda Ardern. But we need a strong Green vote too. To those whom Metiria inspired – please don’t give up on voting. The Greens need you now more than ever!

Newshub poll tonight

Written By: - Date published: 2:51 pm, August 9th, 2017 - 93 comments

The Kelvin Davis effect

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 9th, 2017 - 48 comments

Much has been written about the Jacinda Ardern effect that has put Labour so enthusiastically back in the game. But the appointment of Kelvin Davis as deputy is also looking like a very smart move.

English damaged by Barclay scandal – poll

Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, August 8th, 2017 - 45 comments

The missing Newshub poll question has appeared at last, showing that Bill English has been damaged by his handling of the Barclay scandal. 56% of Kiwis (even 36% of Nats) have lost some trust in English. Updated: The texts have been “deleted”. English refusing to answer questions.

Ardern effect taps pent-up mood for change

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 7th, 2017 - 49 comments

A week is a long time in politics, as the saying goes. The election has been turned upside down. The long pent-up mood for change has found its champion.

Hey Newshub polls – where are the results on the English-Barclay question?

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, August 5th, 2017 - 20 comments

I was a participant in last weekend’s Newshub poll. Along with the question on Metiria Turei’s actions I was asked a similar one whether Bill English was correct and honest in his handling of the Todd Barclay scandal. We’ve heard a lot about the answer to the first question, nothing at all on the second…

Gower on Turei’s sacrifice

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 5th, 2017 - 47 comments

Consider the sharp contrast between the lies and dirty politics that the Nats have brazened out in the last 9 years and the way that Metiria Turei fronted up and took responsibility for decades old youthful mistakes. Gower is right that it has headed off the Nats’ attack lines and they will be fuming.

Metiria Turei will not seek ministerial position

Written By: - Date published: 12:14 pm, August 4th, 2017 - 177 comments

At a noon press conference Metiria Turei announced that she is not resigning and will continue to lead the Greens, but she is not seeking a ministerial position in a new government. She takes responsibility for her past, but the work on a fair welfare system is more important than any one person.

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