Author Archive

Alternatives to banks

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:27 am, April 6th, 2015 - 96 comments

We need an alternative to fattening the coffers of Australian banks.

Peak soil

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 12:32 pm, April 5th, 2015 - 50 comments

No, not a typo. Just in case you’re short of things to worry about, you can add soil to the list.

California drought

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:40 am, April 3rd, 2015 - 47 comments

The California drought gives us a case study in how the effects of climate change are going to play out.

Bill English killed Solid Energy

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:46 am, April 3rd, 2015 - 96 comments

More economic genius from the Nats.

Generous welfare makes people more likely to want to work

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:36 am, April 2nd, 2015 - 49 comments

Evidence on levels of welfare and willingness to work suggests that yet another nasty right-wing myth is wrong. Reality and its well known liberal bias strikes again.

Fast followers – not

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:33 am, April 1st, 2015 - 30 comments

In which NZ, along with many other countries, flunks the first test of the Paris climate change talks.

Leadership and loyalty

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:45 am, March 31st, 2015 - 55 comments

Key ran out on failed candidate Mike Osborne in Northland, just like he ran out on Melissa Lee in Mt Albert.

Twelve mistakes National made in Northland

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:39 am, March 30th, 2015 - 86 comments

There are many specific reasons why National lost Northland, but arrogance is the thread running through all of them.

International reaction to our spying

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:37 am, March 28th, 2015 - 77 comments

How are other nations going to react to our spying on them? Key’s response when the question arose in Korea was very typical of him – bullshit and bluster. So far Brazil, Fiji, and Latin American countries have all proved him wrong.

The Key magic

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:17 am, March 27th, 2015 - 98 comments

“John Key heckled in Northland” – ouch.

Can National lose Northland?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:10 am, March 23rd, 2015 - 99 comments

Is Northland getting sick of National’s panicked invasion? Will having Osborne fail to front Peters in the studio help? Could National actually lose Northland?

March Roy Morgan

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:13 am, March 21st, 2015 - 61 comments

National down again and Labour up again in the latest Roy Morgan poll.

Northland’s ghost jobs

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:24 am, March 20th, 2015 - 42 comments

One of National’s big claims in the Northland buy election was that they had created 7500 new jobs in Northland. Lies lies lies.

National still attacking democracy in Canterbury

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:45 am, March 20th, 2015 - 10 comments

The Nats’ takeover of Environment Canterbury is the greatest attack on democratic rights ever seen in this country. They are about to extend the period of imposed rule, because a fully elected body carries “too many risks”. If you think the people of Canterbury can actually be trusted with democracy you can sign the petition.

Defining the truth

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:31 am, March 17th, 2015 - 12 comments

Changes being considered at Google have far reaching implications. Who gets to decide what is true?

How much is National’s Northland panic costing the taxpayer?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:33 am, March 17th, 2015 - 147 comments

So our PM is cutting short state business for the purposes of party campaigning. Since Key invented the whole silly hats game, I guess it’s fair to ask if he still gets paid as PM when he is acting in his capacity as Party Leader? If so, why?

Spying and the terrorism excuse

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:34 am, March 15th, 2015 - 25 comments

The next time that John Key says that we spy so as to keep NZ safe from terrorism, could some journalist please please ask him if the PM of the Solomon Islands is a terrorist?

Chutzpah in Northland

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:47 am, March 14th, 2015 - 44 comments

Winston Peters has challenged John Key to a debate in Northland.

Catching up with Key

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:36 am, March 14th, 2015 - 140 comments

You can only bungle and lie for so long before people get sick of it. Seems like it’s all starting to catch up with Key at last.

Are you saving to buy a house?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:22 am, March 13th, 2015 - 164 comments

Are you saving to buy a house? Are you saving more than $1000 a week? If not, you are going backwards.

National’s Epsom branch to back National in Northland

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:38 am, March 12th, 2015 - 15 comments

No need for Mr Gower to get all hot and bothered over this “dirty deal”, it’s just National’s Epsom branch backing the National candidate.

Spying on penguins

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:59 am, March 11th, 2015 - 50 comments

The latest on the spying revelations as they emerge in The Herald. Apparently we’re spying on penguins now.

Northland is not a “dirty deal”

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:10 am, March 9th, 2015 - 125 comments

Despite Mr Gower’s excitable tendencies, Andrew Little’s comments that Northland voters may wish to vote to send a signal to the government is not a “dirty deal”.

National has to win Northland (plus Armstrong’s amazing U-turn)

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:27 am, March 8th, 2015 - 153 comments

In which John Key denies the bleeding obvious, and John Armstrong risks whiplash with the speed of his U-turn.

Gender pay gap still growing – of course

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 12:18 pm, March 7th, 2015 - 42 comments

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day. In New Zealand the gender pay gap is growing – perhaps because National abolished the Department of Labour’s Pay and Employment Equity Unit.

The Ferguson interview

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:39 am, March 6th, 2015 - 51 comments

An extraordinary interview with former director of the GCSB Sir Bruce Ferguson on RNZ this morning. He confirms that NZ is conducing mass surveillance. (Any help with transcription?)

Expect more zero-hours crisis cases

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:15 am, March 5th, 2015 - 8 comments

Today is not a good day for workers. Employment law changes that take effect today weaken workers’ rights and will result in more cases of zero-hour contract “excesses”. Labour’s Iain Lees-Galloway has been doing good work on this issue (sign the petition). In contrast National’s position now appears confused, with Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse acknowledging problems even as today’s changes make matters worse.

Nats getting squeamish on zero hour contracts

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:14 am, March 4th, 2015 - 61 comments

Zero hour contracts are the logical end point of National’s agenda for employment legislation. But last night Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse promised legislation to “prohibit the worst excesses”. “Excesses” in the free market – who would have thought?